I wanted to find some interesting styles of poetry for 2022. Metered poetry has always been a challenge for me. I discovered I subconsciously avoided the challenge of dabbling in this particular writing pattern. This year I decided to spread my wings and fly into the face of the storm. I stumbled across the Aquarian by accident and thought it might be interesting to play with this metered style during the last part of January and the entire month of February. This I will call this one Illusion.
I am discovering this style of poetry is harder than it first appeared. You only have to develop fourteen syllables for each stanza, but sometimes you want to write more. Plus, I find the constant counting of the syllables distracting. I also have to fight the urge to create rhythms. These short poems have gotten darker, and I am not sure why. Maybe it’s caused by the dark winter or all the conflicting messages we get these days. There is one thing for sure. They are filled with a touch of sadness. I wrote this before the snow started to fall. It is not an illusion because i’m watching it pile up on the sidewalk.
About the Aquarian and Illusions
Maris Mazz created this metered style of poetry.
Each stanza has lines of 2/4/6/2 syllables. They can have any number of stanzas creating multiples of 4 lines. They aren’t supposed to rhythm at all.
Illusions Warm day Making a fool Of us all while we play And dance Music Of an early Winter February day Happy Smiles on Weary faces Shirtsleeve weather mindless Trick played Because Moisture in the Air embraces your skin Warm mist Polar Express blowing Chill wind down from the north Ending All of Our illusions Of an early spring thaw Late snow
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
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The poem builds up effectively toward the conclusion. All the things we’d like to have that ultimately we do not get.
Warm-weather lives for now are only an illusion. Especially in this week that looked and felt all right and then brought us snow and ice.