One summer as dawn broke the night's faint chill,
I greeted my cell with hesitant eyes.
No coffee today before minds are still
And souls appreciate prayerful skies.
Could yesterday's peak hour be a far guise?
So here I am tasting a monk's pure sight,
Wondering if I can live in new dyes;
If my darkest past can suffer new light.
Inspired by:
With Britain becoming an increasingly secular society, the number of people devoting themselves to the monastic life has been in freefall. But now several monasteries and convents are fighting against the trend by offering taster weekends in the hope of bringing fresh members into the fold.
- A monk's life...but just until Monday ~ BBC News ~ Saturday 10.2.09
NOTE - This is my first attempt at a Huitain.
It is a poem in a single Ballade stanza.
The verse form was most popular in the 16th century and was often used for epigrams in the 18th century. One source suggests the Huitain may have begun in Spain.
The basic layout is:
Line length: 8 (French) or 10 (English) syllables
Rhyme scheme: ababbcbc
Number of lines: 8
Linking to:
Real Toads ~ A Mini-Challenge for Sunday ~ A Monk's Tale ~ Huitain form
dVerse ~ Open Link Night ~ Anniversary Week
16 comments:
Wondering if I can live in new dyes;
If my darkest past can suffer new light.
I love these lines. Beautifully strung!
A beautifully monkish huitaine
Lovely poetry form and an interesting topic to write about ~ To have a taste of a monk's life may be a refreshing sight ~
I love the gentleness of your poem - the image is a fine compliment to the deep pondering of your words.
Wow! Short, succinct, and very powerful! Thanks for providing the information about the monastic resurgence. It made this even better.
I just read a newspaper article on this 'trend' of visiting monasteries for recharging our batteries. I think there is something to it ~ there is a monastery in Berryville, VA I purchase rum soaked fruitcakes from every holiday season ... now you know they are having fun, no worries!
Nice Huitain.
if my dark past can suffer new light...nice piece...can we change, i think surely...perhaps if we take the time to reflect....
Fabulous piece. I'll have to give the form a try.
thanks for sharing this new poetic form. i'll have to give this one a try one day. i loved the poem you wrote but it's that last line that was best.
You certainly found the right tone and voice - a clear call to a life of meditation and sacrifice.
Would you be interested in introducing this form on a FormForAll at dVerse poets? Just a little of its history and the outlines of it with meter and rhyme would be great? Let me know gaycannon@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Ah, what fun! reflection--serious--but with coffee at the center of it. Coffee holds on to a person, so I don't know about this candidate, wistful though he is.
Namaste!
Interesting subject...I especially like...
Wondering if I can live in new dyes;
If my darkest past can suffer new light.
nice..this is a cool form..over here they open the doors to weekend visitors who are just in need for a break and some time to breathe.. i think it's a great idea
To live in new dyes....fabulous poem.
Thank you for the prompt. The form is new to me. Your exploration is super....That's why I could never be a monk...that no coffee deal. LoL
Gemma, thank you for explaining the Huitan to us at dverse. I followed you over here to see this poem. It reflects monastic life fully; my BFF was a Franciscan friar before being ordained (and ultimately leaving the Church b/c he is gay. FYI, only the straight priests molested kids.)
The new dyes, the wondering whether he can do this... speaks especially to a novitiate. Great take, Gemma, and I'll try this for dverse. You've inspired me! Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/08/10/hela-for-poets-united-think-tank-thursday/
Post a Comment