Trimeric \tri-(meh)-rik\ n: a four stanza poem in which the first stanza has four lines and the last three stanzas have three lines each, with the first line of each repeating the respective line of the first stanza. The sequence of lines, then, is abcd, b – -, c – -, d – -.
This week Miss Rumphius asked us to write a poem related to a photograph. Well you know that is right up my alley!! LOL I had to try to play some catch up and use the trimeric form paired with a photo of my son that I took last week on one of our fall hiking days.
A pilgrim is hiking lost
train tracks made to trailsnever expecting to reach the end
grown over with weedy scrub.
Train tracks made to trails
scarred with the ghost of historic crashes,
explosions of jewel-weed.
Never expecting to reach the end
he’s a one-boy expeditionary force
unable to turn back.
Grown over with weedy scrub
he beats back unseen losses
rubbing against the rust.
The Friday Poetry Round up is hosted by Renee at No Water River. Enjoy this beautiful fall day!
10 comments:
Love the poem and the picture, priceless!!
Hi, Andi. Great poem. The B&O Railroad runs through our town and we have a historic station museum. We've taken many hikes along the canal and railroad trails. Your poem reminded me of those times!
I wrote two of those too, as you may know, Andi. I love the way you wrote about your son, this "one many expeditionary force". Your admiration shines through at that energy! There are some old hiking trails in Missouri where I grew up that are old Katy Railroad beds, wonderful for hiking.
Wow - Great poem, Andi. Marvelous job with those structural challenges! I love the picture of your son, and the powerful imagery you've squeezed in, like "...historic crashes, explosions of jewel-weed" and the alliteration AND assonance of the last line. Well done!
Thanks Robyn! We actually had done some research on that particular train line because it was a new trail for us and we were curious about why it was abandoned. We found out that ninety years ago there was a terrific crash on that line, killing 27 people and injured 70 more. We were stunned! Puck spend a lot of time wondering which section of the track was the actual scene of the crash. Plus, I had the joy of introducing him to the fun effects of jewel-weed seed pods, which burst and squiggle in your hand like a worm when you pick them. The grow along the tracks and we set a multitude of seeds free just for laughs! So those two little lines carry a lot of backstory...
Meredith, Laura, and Linda, thanks for your kind comments. Old train tracks are so fascinating, aren't they? Perfect for hiking and exploring and dreaming!
Sorry-I wish blogger wouldn't correct so quickly. The favorite line is "one-boy expeditionary force".
Growing up in the country - and STILL living in the counrty - I can so identify with this...thanks for sharing!
You had me at the alliterative "train track trimeric." Love the poem and what it says about your son!
Do you think being a haiku poet helped you with writing a trimeric? (I mean, in a way did it feel like writing a haiku story?)
Thanks for telling us the backstory. Fascinating and sad.
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