I know about poems with descending numbers of words in each line, but I didn't know the word "nonet". How wonderful! I'm quite impressed with yours, and you've inspired me to try my own! Thanks, Phyllis!
What you have written about your experience at those meetings is utterly stunning to me and heart breaking. Thank you for making your voice known and introducing me to this poetic form - I love what you have written in response
You have put into words so eloquently what I feel about all of this. How can we ban ideas...the next is thoughts and then our society is no longer that..it becomes a prison.
Your nonet is perfect for the current censorship movement. It’s striking how a few, well placed, impactful words can provide profound meaning. I enjoyed watching the Creative Coffee replay and hearing the discussion on this topic. 🙏🏻 Phyllis!
I love how you took the nonet form on vacation with you, Nancy! Interesting how you've used "orange" as a two-syllable word in the first nonet. I sat here repeating "orange" and, on my tongue, it seems to live in some sort of click country between one and two syllables, which I'd never noticed before.
So glad I came back and read this and listened to the accompanying story. Honestly, I was struck by the use of the word "angst" and thought about how really angry I am about all of this anti-idea/anti-other stuff. I took a stab at a nonet in response to these thoughts, but it did NOT come easily. I found myself stumbling on the counting part for each line. It got to be funny, at the same time I was trying to stay angry, I had to count syllables!
Look at you all, born of ignorance.
Who the hell are you, banning books?
I know: the “I have rights” group
Who forget each of us
Have our ideas
About free speech
About art
And choice.
Hmpfh!
Even copying this over, I realized my math was wrong in spots! In contrast to the experience Phyllis had, my first thought on the first line was "I am as mad as a soaking hen." Thankfully, I changed it. I also thought "heck" wasn't strong enough a word, so went ahead with "hell." Finally, I couldn't think of one syllable to express my frustration.....it was hard to work with constraint here.
I'm smiling to read about your struggle and your perseverance. Well done! I wonder what would happen if you tried another nonet using your first thought on the first line . . .
Thank you, Phyllis! I just can’t get my mind around the fact that the country of the free would resort to book banning. For a German this seems just like a trigger to our most evil history.
Oh, Almut! I share your fruitless mental gymnastics. But "the country of the free" has always had profound and obvious shadow sides, and now we are wrestling mightily with the dark.
I know about poems with descending numbers of words in each line, but I didn't know the word "nonet". How wonderful! I'm quite impressed with yours, and you've inspired me to try my own! Thanks, Phyllis!
Thank you Phyllis for inspiring us.......
On Seeing an Old Friend After a Long Time by Ronnie Hess
I had forgotten what hugging means
The solid embrace among friends
Disease and fear took away
Its return beyond reach
Powerfully tight
Tender even
Consoling
These arms
Hold
Oh, this is lovely, Ronnie! Did you enjoy writing it?
I'm glad you'll be trying your own. Not sure if you noticed—this isn't descending number of WORDS but SYLLABLES. Have fun!
I share in your angst over book banning, Phyllis.
They might ban books, but Truth cannot be silenced.
May we all have the courage to speak out!
May it be so!
What you have written about your experience at those meetings is utterly stunning to me and heart breaking. Thank you for making your voice known and introducing me to this poetic form - I love what you have written in response
Thank you, Claire.
Progress
I guess this is what some call progress,
these concrete blocks that block the sky,
more and more and up and up.
“Build it and they will come.”
But, where will they park?
Where will they flush?
“It’s progress.”
Really?
Not.
Cool! What was your experience in writing this, Nancy? Did you enjoy it?
I did have fun! I write a daily haiku, so I’m always counting syllables anyway. lol
I’ll have to add a nonet into the mix! Thanks.
9-8-7-6 . . . !
For a first time using that poetry form, I would say an excellent start!
Thank you, Carl! And thank you for your own public witness against book-banning.
You have put into words so eloquently what I feel about all of this. How can we ban ideas...the next is thoughts and then our society is no longer that..it becomes a prison.
We. Will. Not. Let. It. Happen.
Your nonet is perfect for the current censorship movement. It’s striking how a few, well placed, impactful words can provide profound meaning. I enjoyed watching the Creative Coffee replay and hearing the discussion on this topic. 🙏🏻 Phyllis!
Deep bows, Julie.
Love this through and through and also you.......
❤️🩹
I love this! Going to play around with it.
Play away!
What a terrific little poem, Phyllis -- a gem! Thank you!
Thank you, dear heart!
I actually enjoyed playing around with this as a response to your nonet Phyllis. Grateful for your voice on this matter!
As time waits for no one, we stand still
allowing a few to rule all
The greedy eat the needy
What's fair is but a farce
Until a child speaks
"Let me show you
how it's done.
I know
love."
Wonderful, Myrtle! With internal rhyme, even! Greedy/needy. And alliteration: fair/farce, stand/still. And more!
Here are two nonets I wrote about my recent rip to the U.P.
“Adventure”
I hope to remember this always
We agreed it never got old
Hiking trails and waterfalls
Autumn colors abound
So many turkeys!
Fog rolling in
Light rain falls
Orange
Leaves
“Tourists”
Hungarian Falls near Lake Linden
Copper Harbor, Manganese Falls
Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Iron River Pizza
Porcupine Mountains
Lake of the Clouds
Canyon Falls
Soumi’s
Wow!
I love how you took the nonet form on vacation with you, Nancy! Interesting how you've used "orange" as a two-syllable word in the first nonet. I sat here repeating "orange" and, on my tongue, it seems to live in some sort of click country between one and two syllables, which I'd never noticed before.
So glad I came back and read this and listened to the accompanying story. Honestly, I was struck by the use of the word "angst" and thought about how really angry I am about all of this anti-idea/anti-other stuff. I took a stab at a nonet in response to these thoughts, but it did NOT come easily. I found myself stumbling on the counting part for each line. It got to be funny, at the same time I was trying to stay angry, I had to count syllables!
Look at you all, born of ignorance.
Who the hell are you, banning books?
I know: the “I have rights” group
Who forget each of us
Have our ideas
About free speech
About art
And choice.
Hmpfh!
Even copying this over, I realized my math was wrong in spots! In contrast to the experience Phyllis had, my first thought on the first line was "I am as mad as a soaking hen." Thankfully, I changed it. I also thought "heck" wasn't strong enough a word, so went ahead with "hell." Finally, I couldn't think of one syllable to express my frustration.....it was hard to work with constraint here.
I'm smiling to read about your struggle and your perseverance. Well done! I wonder what would happen if you tried another nonet using your first thought on the first line . . .
Thank you, Phyllis! I just can’t get my mind around the fact that the country of the free would resort to book banning. For a German this seems just like a trigger to our most evil history.
Lovely poem!
Oh, Almut! I share your fruitless mental gymnastics. But "the country of the free" has always had profound and obvious shadow sides, and now we are wrestling mightily with the dark.
Yes, shadow fight does make sense!