Cordonostic Poetry Form

Cordonostic Poetry — This poetic form came into being while I was parked outside of Mallala Primary School, waiting for my son to be finished for the day, so we could both go back home again.

It is based on syllable count, as is my most favourite poetic form, the Haiku. Unlike that Japanese form, the Cordonostic poem has no rules beyond the syllable count, which must be adhered to, or it simply isn’t a Cordonostic poem.

So, here is the rule — the first line must have three syllables, the second line must have five syllables, the third line must have seven syllables, the fourth line must have seven syllables, the fifth line must have five syllables, the sixth line must have three syllables.

For a poem longer that six lines, continue with the 3/5/7, 7/5/3 count, for as long as you like, but preferably (or always) ending with either a three syllable line, or a seven syllable line.

The Cordonostic poem can be set out in verses, or in one longer ‘unversed’ poem. The ‘theme’ for the poem is open to the poet, unlike the Haiku, which tends to be touch on nature.

Having said that though, I like to write about Nature, so here is a short poem about the current season, Winter:

Resting Up …
Icy cold
fingers and feet wish
for warmer times, but winter

insists on a longer rest
for plants, and the ground.
We must wait …

Photo by Tamara Gak on Unsplash