Poetic Form 62: Concrete Form

 

Poetic Form #62: Concrete Form

A concrete poem is written so that the shape of the words on the page matches the subject of the poem.

Poetic Form 61: Trenta-Sei

Life to the Nines

I am envious of other people,

they wear this life so well.

Ironed collars, crisp creases, the sepal

of a rose pinned to a jacket that tells

that they live life to the nines.

Pockets filled with more than dimes.

They wear this life so well,

cufflinks coordinating with watches of gold.

My outfit shows that happiness is a hard sell.

Shoes need polish and resoled.

I throw my shirt into the dryer

to remove the wrinkles I’ve acquired.

Ironed collars, crisp creases, the sepal

of a flower, are not part of my look.

Time and fate, fashion that makes me feeble

in other’s eyes. I keep my eyes down like a crook

not wanting to catch them scrutinizing 

my plastic watch. I feel despair rising,

of a rose pinned to a jacket that tells

me my attempts at a full Windsor knot

will always be crooked. My outfit repels

any illusion that I am one that has got

a credit line at the Men’s Warehouse.

My pockets are empty when I leave the house.

That they live life to the nines,

is clear in the way they hold their shoulders.

Strong, as they step with shoes that shine.

A smile that fits in Vegas, a high roller.

I can not deny that my heart craves 

such a sharp clean shave,

pockets filled with more than dimes.

I find a pair of socks with no holes.

Select khaki pants with no crease lines.

My schoolboy knot looks controlled.

I step out the front door to a new dawn,

knowing kings never come from pawns.

Poetic Form #61: Trenta-Sei

The trenta-sei form was created by the poet John Ciardi. The form has 

six sestets ( 6-line stanzas). Each sestet follows a rhyme pattern of ababcc. 

Each line in the first stanza is used as the first line in its corresponding stanza.

Line 1 is the first line of the first stanza. Then line 2 is the first line of the 

second stanza and so forth.