Poetry Newsletter - January 26, 05

         Two forms of poetry are called "Count Up and Count Down." Thanks to Bianca Boonstra for sharing her research, which I have used and adapted.

Viv

Count Up and Count Down Poetry Form

Count Up

         The "Count Up" has fifty-five (55) syllables divided into ten lines: The first line has one syllable, and a syllable is added with each line until the loast and tneth line contains ten syllables.

         Rhyme may be used, but is not required (not like its cousin poetry form "The Etheree," which is similar to the Count Up).

         Let's look at example of this form, written by Bianca Boonstra:

Father's Day

You
Surprised
Your father
With a present
That he likes a lot.
It must have been hard work
To create this lovely gift
Filled with colors: red, blue, and green.
I know he will cherish it dearly
When he starts using it to save his things.

copyright 2002 by Bianca


         Now let me give this form a try.

Beat of My Heart

The
Beat of
My heart lies
Not inside me
But in the chest of
The man who holds it with
Tender care with love, respect,
And honesty. He betrays not
The trust I bestow by handing it
To him without reserve, only in love.

copyright 2005 by Vivian Gilbert Zabel


          Hmmm . . . not as easy as I first thought. Now let's look at the mirror image of this form.

Count Down

         The "Count Down" reverses the syllable count found in the Count Up. The first line contains ten syllables, and each line drops one syllable until the tenth line has only one syllable. Bianca says this is a great form to use with a humorous twist, although humor isn't necessary.

         Bianca's example is below:

One Hundred Percent

It is just a few hours ago that you
Made me clear that you love me so much
One hundred percent is a lot . . .
The feelings that I have
For you are the same.
I hope it will
Stay this way
Always . . .
Sweet.

copyright 2002 Bianca

         Now, my attempt to write the Count Down follows:

Memories of Meena

Dark curls bounce in abandoned joy as she
Ran to greet me, crying “Gran, my gran!”
Excited to see me as if
Forever passed since a hug.
Now too many years have,
Too many tears flowed
With her away.
Please come home,
Meena
Love.


copyright 2005 by Vivian Gilbert Zabel


         I've seen a few poems that join the two forms into one poem. I've included the two examples I found on the site below.

         Hope you enjoyed learning about the two forms, the Count Up and the Count Down poems. Are you ready to try them?

Highlighted Items

First of all, I found one example of a Count Up poem:

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Then here's an example of Count Down poem:

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Finally, the following are examples of using both forms in the same poem:

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Questions and Ideas

         Why not try your hand and talents at using both forms, the Count Up and the Count Down or a combination of both. Send me the bitem link for your poetry examples.

Until next time, read and write beautify poetry.