POETRY - FORMS OF POETRY

Poetry comes in many different forms such as Haiku, Senryu, Limerick, Sonnets and Poignards.

HAIKU

A haiku is an unrhymed three line Japanese poem of 17 syllables (5-7-5)
The subject is usually based on Nature.

Haiku 1

By Phyl Lobl

One red dragonfly
Hovering bright in sunshine,
Justified the pond.

Haiku 2

By Phyl Lobl

Flannel Flowers bloom
In green-tipped compensation
For carnage by fire.

SENRYU

A Senryu is an unrhymed three line poem similar to Haiku. (Syllables 5-7-5-)
The subject usually satirical or ironic.

Senryu 1

By Phyl Lobl

Compulsory vote
To Democracy Sausage
I can’t see a snag.

Senryu 2

By Phyl Lobl

Where does the truth lie?
Of course the truth does not lie.
That’s why it’s called truth.

LIMERICK

A Limerick is composed of 5 lines.
Lines 1 and 2 rhyme.
Line 3 and 4 rhyme.
Line 5 rhymes with lines 1 and 2.

On Climate Change

By Phyl Lobl

Some say that it just isn’t true.
Some say it is green Ballyhoo,
But I like the alliance
Of people of science,
I’ll vote for them, what about you?

Taylor Made

By Phyl Lobl

Once a Rhodes scholarship chap,
Taylor-made for a Dunce’s cap,
Failed to perceive,
Someone’s aim to deceive
Which turned Clover Moore’s figures to crap.

SONNETS

A poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes.
In English typically having ten syllables per line such as iambic pentameter.
A rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and a final conclusion asking the audience to pay close attention in the final couplet.

Love Passed

By Phyl Lobl

You’ve gone, and years have passed as years they do
on calendar’s impassive blocks of time.
If in my mind sweet memories of you
turn clock-time back, is that a mental crime?
‘Do not look back’ I heard my Mother say.
She knew such grief and worse than is my share.
I do look back to where my comfort lay.
I loved, and I was loved, and I still care
to think upon the times where ‘joy was king’.
The open sea, a boat with sail unfurled.
So many songs to write and play and sing.
We were united, facing winds and world.

Alas such joy is never meant to last.
Age comes, and far too soon the past has passed.

War

By Phyl Lobl

It always leaves a shadow in the mind.
It breaks into the hearts of all who serve.
It’s war that is the scourge of human-kind.
Fought by armies Regular or Reserve.
Trouble in a garden long times past,
Was said to be an action known as sin.
Two people, snake and apple were the cast.
Religion claims that was the origin
Of Hell on Earth and mankind’s deadly shame,
And all the horrors wrought under the sun.
Not so, they know who fight in freedom’s name,
That Hell dwells in the barrel of a gun.

Ask the survivors with the shooters dead.
Ask those who grieve because of bullet lead.

POIGNARDS

Graham Seal is a Folklore Professor and an Historian. He has discovered that Poignard is a French word for pointed weapon which in English also means a pointed message using words. He has encouraged me to write such things.

Poignard Le Papier Toilette

By Phyl Lobl 10th March 2020

One side’s concerned about who is healthy
And who will be likely to cark it.
The other it seems is concerned for wealth schemes
And only the health of the market.

But no need to fret for ‘le papier toilette’
No need to get stuck in the dunny,
If you mind when you sell and your shares do quite well
You’ll be bound to have some paper money.

Another Poignard

By Phyl Lobl 17th March 2020

In this climate of virus, loss of gigs is quite serious
Concern for performers is good and is right.
But the so well intentioned have not even mentioned
The sad plight that’s the lot of the Girls Of The Night.

They’ll need maximum soap, and undiluted hope
For each time and for each paying fellow,
And one more thing for instance, there’s no social distance
When your work-place is in a bordello.

Poignard Three

By Phyl Lobl 20th March 2020

Today as I shopped I kept on getting stopped,
But the smiles weren’t from folk being jolly,
They just wanted of course the name of the source
Of Loo Paper I had in my trolley.