A while back for Meeting the Bar, Gay Cannon challenged us to create a new poetry form. The submissions we received were inspired, rich in opportunity. From among the creative forms offered in response to Gay’s challenge, I’m choosing to revisit that of Brian Miller—the tenWord.
Here’s what Brian had to say about it along with a few of his own examples:
“I call this one on tenWord, because after ten words no one is listening anyway, or already formulating their response…and what can you say in ten words…”
i.
we play Scrabble
seeking letters
for words
we don’t need
ii.
the Spring in my step
is my Fall
into you.
iii.
at night, under harsh streetlights
our shadows gather
getting darker.
Poetry that limits the number of words or syllables almost forces us to pay closer attention to the essence of a thing, to the most minute detail. A Zen-like experience, it develops our ability of self-expression and helps us to avoid the sin of “purple prose,” writing that overpowers us with an infusion of adjectives and adverbs.
Here’s a few ideas (optional) to help you jump-start a tenWord in response to this prompt:
• Select one of your poems that you’ve filled in your “Never Show This to Anyone” file and cull ten words from it. You may discover more than one poem hidden within.
• Refer to last week’s prompt and choose some prose, blacking out extraneous words to come up with your own tenWord.
• Take a walk or look around your room, listen in on someone else’s conversation and come up with a subject.
• Look into the past, recall a vivid experience or a person for the source of your inspiration.
• Just have at it, and have fun.
Of course, you’re not limited to these…these are just ideas!
Here’s how to play:
• Write your poem(s) and post it to your blog or website.
• Copy the direct URL of the poem and paste it, along with your name, into Mr. Linky. He’s waiting at the bottom of this post.
• Visit and read other poets who have linked, commenting on their work.
• Let the world know about dVerse, invite fellow poets and would-be poets to join us, using the wonders of Social Networking.
• Keep this simple prompt in your mind, paying attention to everything you encounter. Who knows what amazing poetry may emerge from it?!
• Enjoy yourself.
For dVerse, Meeting the Bar, this is Victoria, happy to be back in the pub and wishing you many wondrous things in 2015.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Welcome to the Pub, everyone, and Brian’s tenWord form. It is fun to play with and sure to jump-start your poetic inspiration. I have to join my husband for an errand but will be back soon to read those I haven’t yet read. Enjoy!
claudia said:
thanks for tending bar victoria – and greetings to your husband – hope the errands are not too cumbersome
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Smiles–we need a new doorbell and he wanted me to help him pick out the ring tone! Not burdensome.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Loved this. A prompt that really made me smile.. It fitted perfectly with another idea I got from a fellow blogger.. Similar to blackout but more selecting words and short phrases to do something new. Lots of fin
claudia said:
cool what you found in the text björn
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I love what you did with it, Bjorn. You never disappoint.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Thank you so much.. but credit should go to Misky for pointing in the direction.
brian miller said:
luckily I did not have to take my shoes off to do this one…ha….hope everyone has fun with it….the ones I have read so far have been cool….there is actually much you can say in tenwords….
claudia said:
sniff..sniff.. so sure you didn’t take your shoes off…
hahah
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Ha,, barefoot can be great too..
brian miller said:
lol…the dawgs are barking after a day of work…maybe I will step out and give them a wash…smiles.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Sometimes I think others “hear” better when there are only a few words.
brian miller said:
there is not as much for the message to get lost in…
Mary said:
Very cool prompt, Victoria. I enjoyed the tenWord the first time around; and I enjoyed it just as much this time. Amazing what one can say in so few words. I had fun!
claudia said:
i also found it amazing how much can be said – it surely is a good exercise
brian miller said:
I really admire the American sentences that Ginsberg wrote…but even that is a syllable count….so I simplified it a bit…so it is really a play on that…simple impressions….I like when you can work a turn in it like haiku…bjorn did a good job with that….
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Thanks, Mary. Love your dogs! And I too love those American Sentences.
Gabriella said:
A fun prompt, Victoria, with surprising results!
claudia said:
hope that admin paperwork stuff falls like the berlin wall finally…
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Thanks, Gabriella. It’s the focus, I think.
claudia said:
hey everyone… a bit late to the party… smiles
it’s amazing how much can be said in ten words
love the form
will be out on the trail in a minute to read
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I’m finally home as well .. But the pub is open 🙂
brian miller said:
I will be home soon enough…maybe…ha
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I was meeting with a Stockholm writing group.. maybe something else will come out.
brian miller said:
very cool. so do they just write poetry…or do they do shorts…novels?
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Everything from Novels to poetry.. none are bloggers though.. It might be a collaborative book to be written.. 🙂 a story cycle .. to be printed and sold. 🙂
brian miller said:
a collab book would be very cool…
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Welcome, Claudia–as always.
cobalt girl said:
Brian’s examples are phenomenal.
claudia said:
yeah – they are
he’s not a bad poet at all – isn’t he?
smiles
brian miller said:
cobalt,
you make me blush…
smiles.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Yes, they are. But that’s the nature of his poetry, isn’t it?
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
I happened to write a pair of haiku earlier today. Each, by chance, was 10 words long:
My only concern:
Where’s that list itemizing
my other concerns?
and
Deception thunders
from powerful pols — don’t clap–
bolt down belongings.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Haiku often come out to 10 words don’t they ?
brian miller said:
ha. I like the first one.
yikes on the second.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
The first one is my fav, too.
Madeleine Begun Kane said:
Thanks! Yes haiku often end up being ten words long, unless you use long, lawyerly lingo. 🙂
I actually prefer my second one — then again I’m a devout cynic. .)
claudia said:
not bad at all when the list with the concerns stays lost – better just one than a whole list of them – ha
claudia said:
hey – i need some beauty sleep – will be back tomorrow morning to catch up
good nite
brian miller said:
sleep well friend.
Kathy Reed said:
Getting the tenWord and haiku a bit confused, but gave it a try.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
They are quite alike: words vs. syllables.
lupitatucker said:
Love this idea! Can’t wait to try it. I like the “purple prose” concept, def been the perpetrator of some bruised and abused metaphors 🙂
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I think any of us who write prose or poetry have the purple prose struggle from time to time. I had to banish so much from my first novel it hurt.
Grace said:
And I am finally home to make my rounds now ~ Thanks for the fun challenge Victoria ~
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Welcome home, Grace. Have fun making rounds.
Linda Kruschke said:
Love, Love, Love this prompt! I may have to write another later. I do love short form poetry. Peace, Linda
brian miller said:
cool. and maybe use some of that time to visit others too.
Linda Kruschke said:
Yes, I do want to do that, but there’s a meeting between now and then. 😉
Mary said:
Ya, I have visited in the past….but there is no return visit from you. So I will visit you only if you visit me.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Go for it, Linda.
charliezero1.wordpress.com said:
I love this prompt. This sounds like a lot of fun.
oh! yes! I just posted a poem based on this cool prompt challenge.
Hope you all like. 🙂
brian miller said:
yes.
my you worked in some rather big words too. ha.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Really quite erudite!
Ginny Brannan said:
Thought I’d come and share. Apologies ahead of time. Mine reads more like ten-10 word rants. Call it the ravings of a sick and rather heavily medicated woman, which is exactly the case! Out of work with horrible cold two days, tomorrow will be day three. Afraid the attack in Paris has been heavy in my thoughts the past few days, so that’s where my thoughts went. Will have to try again when my head is clearer!
brian miller said:
ugh. colds suck. i hope you feel better soon ginny….get some rest…and some chicken soup….
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Feel better, Ginny. So glad you made the effort to be here.
brian miller said:
alright, to bed….
be back in the morning…..
Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade) said:
I’m glad to be reminded of this form, and enjoyed playing with it in various ways.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Looking forward to reading yours in a minute.
ManicDdaily said:
Hey Victoria–a fun prompt–thanks. k.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Thanks, Karin.
Poet Laundry said:
Thanks for offering this fun form, Victoria!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I expected you to great with a short form like this, and I was not dissapointed.
Poet Laundry said:
Thanks much, Bjorn!
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Glad you enjoyed it!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
What a turnout in the bar.. so many great entries.. 🙂
claudia said:
i’m back home and catching up…
Grace said:
I am home as well and now making my rounds ~ Thanks for the wonderful responses ~
Anna said:
Okay, this one is cheating a bit with its 13 words – but then I thought Brian would fudge the rules a bit for form poetry :).
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Anyone who has time to count the words should read more poetry…or better yet, write them.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Anna–when I tried to access your site from e-mail I got some ad from Go-Daddy with a notice that the domain was expired and then from Mr. Linky, it was blocked. Sorry!
Anna said:
http://chromapoetica.com/2014/06/03/empty-frames/. Hopefully that works, strange Mr. Linky is blocking me. I went to hosting at WordPress instead of Go-Daddy so the blog is at Chromapoetica now instead of Chromapoesy. Sorry for all the trouble, Victoria.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Still blocked by my anti-virus. I’ll see if I can override it or try it on another computer.
ds said:
Sliding through the door just before closing. Again. Not sure how valid mine are as poems, but it was a fun challenge all the same. Thank you Victoria for tending bar, and Brian for your form-matting skills 😉
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Welcome, ds. Glad you made it in time.
gailatthefarm said:
I missed the dead line again!
http://gailatthefarm.blogspot.com/2015/01/tenword.html
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Loved them!
gailatthefarm said:
Thanks
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Thanks all for sharing. I will be offline for a couple of days. Enjoyed your work so much.
McGuffy Ann said:
I am new here. I wish I had seen this sooner. I guess the linky is closed. I love concise poetry. I hope to be joining in with things like this. Thanks.
Anita said:
I wrote my poem with four 10 word lines 🙂
Linky is closed. Still, sharing my poem-
http://www.anitaexplorer.com/2015/01/proper.html
Do hope you include it!
brian miller said:
cool. i am sure if you visit some of those linked they will find you….