Welcome once again to my poetry page!
I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative (though once again, did the Doctor write this particular story..?) 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.
Before we begin, I would just like to mention that the 6th was of course Mr. Holmes’s birthday. And as well as receiving a splendid Epiphany Tart from
okapi1895, he also received another from
vaysh. You can see her photograph of her magnificent creation below:

I can confirm that both tarts tasted delicious. And as well as those delightful treats,
gardnerhill popped round with a chocolate cake! I cannot tell you how that tasted because soon after it arrived Mr. Holmes declared he had to go and check it for suspicious substances—returning an hour later with an empty plate and a large smile on his face.
Anyway, this week my featured form is the elfje. I was inspired in my choice by Sam Merton’s “fairy footstep” and by the mention of Van Seddar and Amsterdam.
Simply Elfje gives this definition:
The Elfje form originated in The Netherlands where it is used to teach young children to write poetry. The word Elfje means ‘Elven’ or ‘Fairy’ poem (from ‘Elf’ meaning ‘elven’ or ‘fairy’ and the sufix ‘-je’ meaning ‘little’). The form consists of 11 words spread over 5 lines.
Line 1. One word. This word symbolizes a colour or feature. The word symbolizes the atmosphere.
Line 2. Two words. These are something or someone with this colour or feature.
Line 3. Three words. Giving more information about the person or the object. You describe where the person or the object is, who the person or what the object is, or what the person or object is doing. This sentence usually starts with the word ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘it.’
Line 4. Four words. Here you are writing something about yourself in relation to the person or the object. This sentence is your conclusion.
Line 5. One word. This word is called the ‘Bomb.’ It is the essence of the poem.
To follow the rules strictly can be rather restricting and stilted so, as with all forms of poetry it is permissible to bend them a bit...
Here is my example poem:
Ladylike
Mr. Holmes
A pretty frock
That parasol looks familiar
Mine!
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, beeswing, blackout poetry, blues stanza, bref double, Burns stanza, call and response, chastushka, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, colour poems, concrete poetry, Cornish verse, curtal sonnet, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, ekphrasis, elegiac couplet, elegiac stanza, elfje, englyn, epigram, epitaph, epulaeryu, Etheree, fable, found poetry, ghazal, haiku, Italian sonnet, kennings poem, lanturne, limerick, lyric poetry, mathnawī, palindrome poetry, pantoum, poem cycle, quintilla, renga, riddle, rime couée, Schüttelreim, sedoka, septet, sestina, sonnet, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle
Please leave all your poems inspired by The Mazarin Stone in the comments on this post. I look forward to seeing them!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Hudson
I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative (though once again, did the Doctor write this particular story..?) 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.
Before we begin, I would just like to mention that the 6th was of course Mr. Holmes’s birthday. And as well as receiving a splendid Epiphany Tart from

I can confirm that both tarts tasted delicious. And as well as those delightful treats,
Anyway, this week my featured form is the elfje. I was inspired in my choice by Sam Merton’s “fairy footstep” and by the mention of Van Seddar and Amsterdam.
Simply Elfje gives this definition:
The Elfje form originated in The Netherlands where it is used to teach young children to write poetry. The word Elfje means ‘Elven’ or ‘Fairy’ poem (from ‘Elf’ meaning ‘elven’ or ‘fairy’ and the sufix ‘-je’ meaning ‘little’). The form consists of 11 words spread over 5 lines.
Line 1. One word. This word symbolizes a colour or feature. The word symbolizes the atmosphere.
Line 2. Two words. These are something or someone with this colour or feature.
Line 3. Three words. Giving more information about the person or the object. You describe where the person or the object is, who the person or what the object is, or what the person or object is doing. This sentence usually starts with the word ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘it.’
Line 4. Four words. Here you are writing something about yourself in relation to the person or the object. This sentence is your conclusion.
Line 5. One word. This word is called the ‘Bomb.’ It is the essence of the poem.
To follow the rules strictly can be rather restricting and stilted so, as with all forms of poetry it is permissible to bend them a bit...
Here is my example poem:
Mr. Holmes
A pretty frock
That parasol looks familiar
Mine!
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, beeswing, blackout poetry, blues stanza, bref double, Burns stanza, call and response, chastushka, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, colour poems, concrete poetry, Cornish verse, curtal sonnet, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, ekphrasis, elegiac couplet, elegiac stanza, elfje, englyn, epigram, epitaph, epulaeryu, Etheree, fable, found poetry, ghazal, haiku, Italian sonnet, kennings poem, lanturne, limerick, lyric poetry, mathnawī, palindrome poetry, pantoum, poem cycle, quintilla, renga, riddle, rime couée, Schüttelreim, sedoka, septet, sestina, sonnet, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle
Please leave all your poems inspired by The Mazarin Stone in the comments on this post. I look forward to seeing them!
Mrs. Hudson
Limerick
Date: 2016-01-10 10:34 am (UTC)Illustrious client in rage,
Prize sprung as surprise
Like the Treaty. I surmise
It’s a clip-show, Victorian Age.
An elfje
Date: 2016-01-10 10:51 am (UTC)Doppelgängers:
Holmes’ waxwork
Record, not violin
And the author is…
Who?
Re: Limerick
Date: 2016-01-10 11:32 am (UTC)Re: Elfje...ish
Date: 2016-01-10 11:34 am (UTC)Wonderful interpretation of the form ^^
RE: Re: Elfje...ish
Date: 2016-01-10 11:38 am (UTC)RE: Limerick
Date: 2016-01-10 11:38 am (UTC)RE: An elfje
Date: 2016-01-10 11:39 am (UTC)I reckon it was the dummy...
The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 11:40 am (UTC)I believe you are owed a new parasol, this one seems a bit distressed.
Re: The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 11:54 am (UTC)Definitely not.
RE: Re: The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 11:57 am (UTC)Wouldn't dream of insinuating such...
Gin?
Re: An elfje
Date: 2016-01-10 11:59 am (UTC)Re: The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 11:59 am (UTC)RE: Re: The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 12:02 pm (UTC)Distress,
Damaged parasol.
Dummy is studied,
Head is removed repeatedly;
Satisfaction.
Re: The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 12:40 pm (UTC)I apologise - I was just taking a few notes...
no subject
Date: 2016-01-10 01:27 pm (UTC)The author
This strange tale
Would be better in
AO3
Re: Elfje...ish
Date: 2016-01-10 01:40 pm (UTC)Re: Limerick
Date: 2016-01-10 01:41 pm (UTC)Re: An elfje
Date: 2016-01-10 01:42 pm (UTC)elfje with abuse of hypens
Date: 2016-01-10 01:58 pm (UTC)Furious Artist-Sculptor
Attention-to-detail becomes Bait-on-hook
Art equaled to Death-Machines
Sacrilège!
Re: The poetry of Mrs H
Date: 2016-01-10 01:59 pm (UTC)Re: Elfje...ish
Date: 2016-01-10 02:07 pm (UTC)Re: Limerick
Date: 2016-01-10 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-10 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-10 02:11 pm (UTC)Re: elfje with abuse of hypens
Date: 2016-01-10 02:12 pm (UTC)