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This week: Let there be light: Lantern variations. Edited by: Red Writing Hood <3  
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Out of the dozen literature reference books and ten poetry-specific reference books sitting on my shelf, not one mentions lantern poetry forms. The article below is a gathering of information of the different types of lantern poetry forms being talked about on the web, and my thoughts on the form.
"Every poem can be considered in two ways--as what the poet has to say, and as a thing which he makes..."
C. S. Lewis
" Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. "
T. S. Eliot
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Let there be light: Lantern poetry form variations
The consensus is that the form is to be center aligned in order to visually represent a lantern, and is five lines long-if one stanza is decided upon for the poem.
It has been said that the form is Japanese, but I've not been able to discover a single source that proves that as fact. This makes further historic information difficult, if not impossible to prove.
It appears as if the poetry form and the Asian lantern festivals have been connected somehow. It makes sense; the form is short-as many Asian forms are. It also makes sense in that the form is supposed to look similar to the lanterns lit during those festivals.
So let's look at the festivals. They are celebrated all over Asia including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. This does not make the form Japanese or even Asian, just inspired by this ancient celebration of light, love, thanks or wishes (depending on which lantern festival you read about).
Now let's take this information to expand the definition of the form.
MUST HAVES
--Must be center aligned to look like a lantern from an Asian lantern festival.
--Must have five lines in each stanza.
COULD HAVES or What's The Poet's Choice In All This?
--Can be one or more stanzas.
--Any rhyme (or no rhyme).
--Any subject, but a subject of light, love, thanks or wishes is preferred.
--Lines can be done in word count or syllable count, but should be consistent with either one or the other. This means if you decide to count words, use a word count for the entire poem--and if you decide to count syllables then use a syllable count for the entire poem.
VARIATIONS
Variation #1
1 syllable or word
2 syllables or words
3 syllables or words
4 syllables or words
1 syllable or word
Variation #2
1 syllable or word
3 syllables or words
5 syllables or words
3 syllables or words
1 syllable or word
Variation #3
1 syllable or word
2 syllables or words
2 syllables or words
3 syllables or words
1 syllable or word
OF NOTE
Some of the variations I found discuss further explanations for each line (topic, describe line 1, describe line 1 again, describe line 1 some more, and synonym of line 1), but I find this too restricting. Feel free to use those if you need more focus for your poem. The ultimate goal here is to say a lot (layers of meaning) with only a few words.
Also...
Click here: http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/lantern.htm to create an instant variation #1 syllabic lantern poem.
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Theme: Lantern, little lantern, paper lantern, lanterne, and lanturne variations.
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Comments on last month's newsletter:
By: Pathik 
Comment:
I like the poem below written by William Henry Davies and would like to share this:
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
By: Jenn
Comment:
Baby Powder smells like a breath of fresh air
Baby Powder tastes like silky chalk
Baby Powder looks like a white sandy beach
Baby Powder feels like comfort food
Baby Powder sounds like a silent prayer
Baby Powder smells like a breath of fresh air Baby Powder tastes like silky chalk Baby Powder looks like a white sandy beach Baby Powder feels like comfort food Baby Powder sounds like a silent prayer
Thank you both for sharing! 
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Poetry: July 21, 2010 Issue [#3873]
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