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