Father's day cinquains

1

Early morningsong

Three laughs.
Sweet June has chimed
within a small boy’s voice.
The melody of fatherhood,
reminds.

10 juni 2005


2

A question for Third Father’s day

Do you
miss the diapers?
The cries? The fuss? The burps?
He’s old enough for a sibling now.
Careful!

10 juni 2005


3

Dad’s retort

Careful?
Three years have passed.
What was I thinking then?
That’s right! Nothing! But isn’t he
so ME?

10 juni 2005


4

Why can’t he sleep like stars?

Stars wink,
and yawn at dawn,
but he awakes with joy,
yells “Happy Father’s Day” to sleep-
filled eyes.

10 juni 2005


5

Father’s day … much too early

In jest,
We bang the pans.
No hangover ‘s allowed!
The eggs-and-bacon ‘s almost done.
Come on!

10 juni 2005


6

Payback

Short legs
Run, jump, skip, climb.
Just like you! They snicker.
Quick, put away the crystal, hide
car keys.

10 juni 2005


7

The exasperated mother squeaks ...

Take him.
He’s yours till Six.
Enjoy this Father’s Day.
I will come back to pick him up,
... maybe.

12 juni 2005


8

Ask me about Father’s Day

Warm sun,
playground picnic.
Watching clouds with my son.
Better than chasing hockey pucks!
He hoots.

12 juni 2005

© Kare Enga


Author's notes: For my friend Gary McPike on his third Father's Day.

NOTE TO RATERS/REVIEWERS:

American cinquains have 22 syllables in five lines: 2/4/6/8/2. There should be a building of emotion and release. A crescendo 2-4-6-8 and a final dimuendo. Iambic meter is traditional but other meters are fine, although difficult. Also, traditionally there are 11 stresses, but this is not as important as the number of syllables. Some of my cinquains follow one of two modified forms: 3/5/7/9/3 or rarely 3/6/9/12/3. Both of these allow for dactyls and more intricate rhythms.

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE A REVIEW LIKE THE FOLLOWING:

I don't think these were really cinquains, because the way they were made. First line is suposed to be noun, the next has two adjectives. The following has 3 words ending in ING, and the one after that has a phrase describing line one. The last line is supposed to have a synnonym, or something like the first line, but it can be the same word.

MY RESPONSE:

Although it is true that cinquains can be defined as anything with only 5 lines, these are American Cinquains as defined by the poetess who invented them long before I was born. The are a recognized form that has a magazine "Amaze" devoted entirely to them.

The form that you refer to is used to teach children nouns, adjectives, et cetera and has many variations itself. It is basically a word list. It is not an adult form and probably not a form of poetry at all.

Kåre.