The Versesmith

  The  W aka   is a 5-line Japanese poem which is sometimes confused with the tanka.  Both have a 5/7/5/7/7 syllable structure, however the W aka's lines are arranged in a particular way.  The first 2 lines make up one piece, the second 2 lines another, then the final line can be part of the second group, or stand on its own.  W restlers I (there is another I call W restlers II ) was painted in 1960 by my father, W in Smith. as in ancient G reece the three men wrestle naked the early morning sunrise seeps through open doors shadows dance on the gym floor ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

 The V erso- R hyme was invented by L. Ensley Hutton.  It is written on a subject the poet feels emphatic and enthusiastic about, as it ends in an exclamation point. * 8 lines (an octastich) * syllables 6/4/6/4/6/4/6/4 * rhyme pattern  x a x b x a x b * usually right margined  * the only punctuation is an exclamation point at the end   (I am not religious, so please forgive me if the poem has things incorrect.  Read it as a poem, not a how-to for prayer.) I found this hand-painted Mexican devotional Madonna painting in the Goodwill Outlet bins.   It's about 75 years old, not a tourist item. Virgin, we pray to you our pleas be heard your generous comfort never ending we supplicate you now to hear our word we kneel before you our prayers ascending! ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

A N once  form is a poem created by an individual poet, usually for one-time use.  Depending on the poet's preference, it may be based on a pre-existing form, but will have its own structure.   So, basically, a nonce is a form for one-time use.  I wrote n ine stanzas, two rhyming lines each, with n ine syllables in each line, so a lot of N s. N ativity is my name for this diptych (an artwork in two connected parts), a term from Greek meaning " pair of writing tablets ."  I found it in the Goodwill Outlet bins, and it's one of my favorite pieces.  The artist is  Marlinde von Ruhs , which is rather incredible to find!  The two parts are hinged, trimmed in gold braid, with the backs covered in turquoise felt with beading.  It's the most incredible nativity I've ever seen! Marlinde often mounted her smaller works in felt or velvet, brocade, and gold braiding.  According to some sources she didn't want them to be just paintings in a f...

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  

    Welcome to Day 1, or Day   A , of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge !  Each day of April, with Sundays off, I'll be posting artwork from my collection A to Z with a few short lines about the work and an A to Z poetry form.  So, on with the Challenge! The  A rtist was painted by my father, Winstead D. Smith, in 1962.  I didn't know until I was in my 50s, when my brother told me, that this was me! The A quarian  is an invented form created by Mari e Mazz.    * Syllabic, 2-4-6-2 syllables per line, any number of   quatrains * Unrhymed lines within each quatrain I sit at the table too intent on my work to see. He stands behind, silent, sketches for a painting to come. Hanging in my bedroom, at last I learned the trut h. I t’s me! ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #184: Let's Go Formal  "Your (optional) prompt this week is to write a limerick, a ballad, or a sonnet – or to write on the subject of formality without necessarily doing so in formal verse (or even any kind of verse). If you choose to write a sonnet, the particular kind is up to you (Shakespearian, Petrarchian, Clarian, Curtal, American ...) but please do let us know ." I have attempted to write a Shakespearean Sonnet.  This is actually my first sonnet attempt, so be gentle with the comments please!  Harvey , in author's collection  I'm surrounded by faces on the walls. They watch me go about my daily chores in the dining room, parlor, and the halls, reflected in glass above the drawers. The darkness of night obscures them from view, mere reprieve from their contemptuous glance. Safe again 'til daybreak's pale light breaks through to catch the last of midnight's eerie dance. By radiant ...

Poets and Storytellers United " ...as your prompt this week, I invite you to think of a piece of music which affects you emotionally  whenever you happen to hear it played – whether it warms your heart or brings back different reactions – and tell us what this particular piece has meant to you in your life." While the poem is pure fiction, I often think of old friends preserved in faded photos.  What became of them?  Do they wonder about me too?  The inspiring song lyrics are below.  (The term abstraction came from an unused NaPoWriMo prompt to use an art term in a poem.) ©Win Smith 1962, in author's collection She said she lived her life in abstraction, drew pleasure in exaggeration, in the distorted way she viewed us, squinting her eyes in appraisal. She thought herself another Miro, speaking Catalan to her friends. Once at a party she tossed me out, I'd told her Joan was a man. That was so long ago. A faded photo is all that's left to remind me of her. So wa...

U - Used Up  A ekphrastic poem based on this painting.  See E for a definition. unsigned painting in my collection Used up. That’s how she felt. An obligatory soiree in too tight heels. “ Put yourself out there and schmooze. It makes me look good when you look good. ” Yes, she felt used up. Beat down. Worn out. Done in. And over it. She was determined that last night was the last time she’d be put on display. No more playing Trophy Wife. It was harder work than she expected. But, damn... that prenup. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved 

  Tanka Tuesday Weekly Poetry Challenge No. 330 Ekphrastic Poetry "This week, using the painting below as your inspiration, please write either a syllabic poetry form or a freestyle poem, including a syllabic form (both on the same post) ." Wivenhoe Park , by John Constable  My ten line poem would ordinarily be called an etheree, however the last line repeats the first four lines, making it a dectina refrain.  Both the etheree and the dectrina refrain are invented forms.  You paid how much for this pastoral scene? Constable, you say? It should be Picasso at that price. Or a Warhol would be far cheaper.  Send it back. You wasted my money once again. You paid how much for this pastoral scene?   ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved As you can see, I am not a fan of Constable!  My son summed him up well this morning with, "It looks like a jigsaw puzzle."  Well, to each his own, I know he sells for incredible amounts of mi...

  Tanka Tuesday Weekly Poetry Challenge No. 288 #TastetheRainbow " Hello everyone. Happy September! This week, choose your own syllabic form and a color to feature in your syllabic poem. Think about the different ways you can use color in a poem. "   artwork in author's collection palo fierro scant relief from searing heat with the drone of bees lavender petals flutter spent confetti on parched soil   ©2022 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved   I bought this painting just this morning, and it instantly inspired me!  For those who count, Soda Coffee (now Travel & Daily Life ) does not recognize "fierro" as three syllables.  It is.  It's a Spanish word, and is pronounced as fee-air-o. #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday #ekphrasticpoetry #ekphrasis #palofierro #ironwoodtree #desertironwood #tastetherainbow #tankatuesdayno288