Rhopalic Verse
February 2014
Originating from the Greek word “rhopalon,” which is a club that is thicker at one end and forms a wedge shape, this poetic form creates a wedge pattern on every line using the syllables in each word.
Traditionally, the syllable count for each word grows by one until the end of the line; so, each word on each line has one more syllable than the previous one.
Here’s my example which starts with the two-line title and has increasing lines per stanzas as well as syllables per word.
“Thank goodness,
for Every Dragonfly”
By Giselle (Meguess)-Ates
A tiny dragonfly
darts across watery territories--
mere seconds elapsing.
It captures unaware, unsuspecting
bugs, insects—troublesome
pests—aiding unaware, unsuspecting
mere mortals.
They remain commonly, enormously, unfortunately, unappreciated—
'til
now—
thank goodness
for every dragonfly!
Here are some written by my extremely creative students:
“Cookies”
By Emily Baggett (5th grade)
The cookies
were freshly created
by loving Emily,
who enjoys concocting
such tasty creations.
“Stars”
By Amanda Huff (6th grade)
Stars glitter silently.
One blinking tiredly.
I’m wishing
and dreaming
that
one fateful
day
I’ll
be able
to
reach unknown galaxies!
“Who is King under the Mountain?”
By Miryam Gabriel (11th grade)
(Inspired by The Hobbit: Desolation of Smog)
Up rugged mountainside
climbs Thorin,
climbs Hobbit,
climbs Wizard.
Up highest perilous precipices
like eagles emerging
from forest
dark,
deep, claiming
the mountain
home.
“I am King under the Mountain!”
By Miryam Gabriel (11th grade)
(Inspired by The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug)
Up shining mountainside
climbs Hobbit,
just Hobbit,
(name’s Bilbo).
Up golden, glorious, luxuriant
bed,
thief clambers quietly.
Hush!
A dragon,
large dragon,
lies beneath.
Hush!
Smaug, asleep,
Wakes!
“Fine”
By Jonah Edwards (10th grade)
A spider’s creation--
thin, wavy, delicate;
its design resembles invisible, indestructible
threads
which hover aimlessly
through forceful
winds,
but remain gracefully
fine.
"Stellar"
By Jonah Edwards (10th grade)
Stars
So stellar
Stay shining splendidly
In shadowed
Skies
"Chemicals"
By Jonah Edwards (10th grade)
Red
Blood acid
Flows downward peacefully
In fiery
Streams
"Sprout"
By Jonah Edwards (10th grade)
Sprout
Green bushes
Trees blossom quietly
Red flowers
Sprout
