Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Speckled Band

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Welcome once again to my poetry page!

I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative and then be inspired to write a poem related to it in some way. All forms of poetry are permitted, and further down the page there is a selection you might like to consider using over the coming weeks.


This week my featured form is the circular poem.

Structure & Surprise gives the following definition:

Poems employing the circular structure begin in one place, then journey away from that place, only to (as you may have guessed) circle back to the beginning.

I believe this may be interpreted in many ways: the first line or verse being repeated at the end; returning at the conclusion to a thought or situation that was brought in at the beginning; starting in the present, moving into the past or imagination and then coming back to the present. It is entirely up to the poet. There are no strict rules for this one.


Here is my example poem:

Watson waits in the dark
Heeding Holmes’ warning stark
To be alert, with his weapon near
Because peril will very soon be here.
But… surely a moment is all it would take
To state the danger is a snake.
Rather than have this nameless fear
It would be better to be clear.
Is Holmes not a little off the mark,
Leaving his doctor in the dark?

As always, this is simply something to consider for the future. Any form of poetry is welcome this week—and every week! Here are a few suggestions for you:

221B verselet, abecedarian poetry, acrostic poetry, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, concrete poetry, diamante, epigram, haiku, limerick, palindrome poetry, riddle, sedoka, sestina, sonnet, tanka, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle


Please leave all your poems inspired by The Speckled Band in the comments on this post. I look forward to seeing them!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hudson

Comments

Re: Limerick

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Short but almost Roylott-ian howl. Using Surrey is brilliant.

Thank you.

Re: Limerick

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Well, Stoke Moran was going to be difficult to rhyme easily.