sherlock60 | Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Reigate Squires

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 alexandrine couplet.

Merriam-Webster gives this definition of an alexandrine:

A line of verse of 12 syllables consisting regularly of 6 iambs with a caesura after the third iamb.

That is: te TUM, te TUM, te TUM [pause] te TUM, te TUM, te TUM.

As “twelve” is significant in this week’s story, I thought this might be an appropriate form to try.

Here is my example poem, inspired by my dismay over Mr. Holmes’s health when he returned from France. (I have managed the syllable count and attempted the caesura but unfortunately there is not an iamb in sight):

Think of the landlady: Mister Holmes, you shocked ‘er!
Stay healthy on cases; take along your Doctor.

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, alexandrine, blackout poetry, call and response, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, colour poems, concrete poetry, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, epigram, epulaeryu, fable, haiku, limerick, palindrome poetry, riddle, sedoka, sestina, sonnet, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle

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

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hudson