Poetry at laterlife - The Tetractys
The Tetractys
This is an
absorbing form that follows a syllable count of
1-2-3-4-10
It can be reversed (A Reverse Tetractys)
10-4-3-2-1
Or doubled either way to form a Double Tetractys
1-2-3-4-10-10-4-3-2-1 for
example, or 1-2-3-4-10-1-2-3-4-10
In fact, any combination of the single forms is acceptable. Some
interesting shapes may be made from this form too, try some
variations. As in all poetry, thought should enter each line and the
single word forming the beginning (or end) should ideally not be as
boring as ‘a’ or ‘the’ etc. There are plenty of interesting single
syllable words out there! Here’s a
humourous
version I had published some years ago:
My 1
cat licks 2
his paws then 3
wipes all over. 4
He’s not clean, he’s just covered in cat-spit. 10
On a different take altogether, the flow of a
tetractys
is suitable for weightier pieces. Have a look at this double, which
won a prize for me when I lived in Devon:
Dartmoor Regression
In a midnight symphony of colour,
high raven’s wings
rustling at
weather’s
edge.
Eyes
with tales,
pale moon hands
stroke Standing Stones,
giving a glimpse of earth’s pre-history.
I haven’t shown the syllable count here, but you can check for
accuracy if you wish! And do you see what I mean about shapes?
Your Turn
As with the sonnets
and the rhyming couplets earlier, I would like you to submit your poetry
to me, this time, of course, in tetractys. Try to pick a
subject that will interest many but be thought of by few. Use the
suggestions above and enjoy! I would suggest a poem of around 15
lines or so. I will publish a
selection on the site for all visitors – and we have a lot – to
enjoy. Use the
site email
with ‘Tetractys’ in the heading. I look
forward to seeing your submissions and please contact me if there’s
anything you are unsure about.
Best Wishes,
Ronnie Goodyer
Development
Here at poetry at laterlife we will be continuing our series of
verse forms. There is no hard and fast order with this agenda so if
there is anything you are particularly interested in, just drop me a
line. Also forthcoming will be themed competitions with various
awards and, subject to demand, our own anthologies. Although it is
well in advance, one scheme is to publish an anthology prior to
Christmas to give personal gift opportunities. Details of this will
be forthcoming shortly.
Contact
Please send submissions, comments, queries to me at:
POETRY
AT LATERLIFE
ensuring that you use pal as part of the email heading.
If you would like to receive details of Reach poetry magazine, The
Dawntreader literary magazine or current Indigo Dreams Press poetry
competitions
please email with specific interest to:
INDIGO DREAMS PRESS
Good luck with your creativity and I look forward to welcoming you
as a laterlife poet.
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