The Versesmith

L anturne,   or L antern poetry has only two requirements and forms more or less a Japanese lantern shape.  5 lines syllable count per line: 1/2/3/4/1  The L ighthouse is a lithograph copyright Henry B. Sandler Co. Inc. New York City published around 1962-1964.  The artist of the original painting is shown as Alfieri, most likely a publisher house artist or contract artist.  The name Alfieri is found on multiple Sandler Co. prints from the 1960s.  I found this in its original frame (Sandler lithographs were sold in frames, ready to hang) in the Goodwill Outlet bins.  10¢ a pound glass price! his safety dependent on the steady light ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved    

  K imo  is the Israeli version of haiku.  Like haiku it is 3 lines, however the syllable count differs.  A K imo is  10/7/6.  It is not rhymed, and is a single image, no movement, frozen like a photo.  I'm not sure how well I did with that part! These are titled by the artist, K analen I and K analen II, monotype mixed medias by Helle (Melchoir) Hamilton 1989. K analen means "canal."  A monotype is a one of a kind artwork, which is why these are numbered 1/1.  Ms. Hamilton was born in Denmark and moved to the U.S. in 1965 at the invitation of her grandfather, Lauritz Melchior, a world-famous tenor who also performed in musical films. Two years later she married David Hamilton, the brother of actor George Hamilton, who was the best man at the wedding.  I rescued these, literally, as one was fallen out of the frame, from the Goodwill Outlet bins.  They still had the gallery artist's information on the backs.  I paid $1 each....

The J oseph's Star was created in 2007 by Christina R. J ussaume in memory of her father, J oseph.  It is a syllabic form with the following "rules" that should make the poem rather star-shaped. 8 lines 1/3/5/7/7/5/3/1 Unrhymed Any subject, and no limit to the number of stanzas, but each should be a complete statement. Center aligned  This sketch came professionally framed from St. Vincent de Paul for only 50¢. It is signed Paunch, and on the back is a doodle that reads PaunchoDoodles.    Jazz time to dance so strike up the band flute and drum and sousaphone tap your toes and nod your head leave off your worries tonight nothing like Jazz ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

I am thrilled to share these five poems that were  published  today on  I Write Her: The Short of It , edited by Susi Bocks. She “ aims to find those poets and writers with something big to say in as few words as possible .”  I wrote three haiku, one tanka, and a short free verse (4/4/4/9) in the style of a haiga .  These forms are usually not given titles, but have been here.  Feathered Messenger  poised on the lamp post raven's keen dark eyes stare down harbinger of news Benny  my house panther snores a big boy once, now wasted spends last days with me   Moon Music sultry summer night cicadas shrill serenade nocturne in moonglow Silent Muse   the poet fails, sobs words have left him, blank paper laying on his desk mock the once great man of verse his muse no longer whispers Portrait of a Nun The new submission cycle for The Short of It will open July 1, 2027. #haiku #tanka #theshortofit #iwriteher #shortpoems...

The I mayo is a 4-line Japanese poem that has 12 syllables in each line. There is a planned pause (caesura)) between the first 7 syllables and the final 5 in each line.  I created those pauses as best I could!  The I mayo was originally written to be sung, but that's not a requirement. Poets have free range on subject matter. I nés  is my name for this painting on canvas I found unrolled in the dirt of a yard sale.  I got it for under $1.00.   She watches out the window, as she often does. Light shines behind her; there's a gap in the curtains. Her vigil began at dawn, it is evening now. Soon she'll sigh, close the gap, and slowly climb the stairs. ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  H ay(na)ku is an  invented form by Eileen Tabios.   3 lines 6 words line 1 - one word line 2 - two words line 3 - three words    H arvey  is the name of the artist, and for lack of any title given I call the painting  H arvey .   H arvey  is a big guy, 24" x 30" from St. Vincent de Paul.  I paid $6.50 for him.  Stop! Your eyes see too much. ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved