Fade to Grey

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 one I will call Fade to Grey.

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. I know for sure that sadness captured my attention during this dark winter.

About the Aquarian and Fade to Grey

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.

Fade to Grey

Silver
Lustrous glowing
Shiny stuff like dimes
In my

Pocket
Or the earrings 
Dangling from my ears or
Sterling

Flask tucked
In a pocket
To wet a thirst throat
Maybe

Argent
Knives and forks are
What’s needed a the time
Unless

You were
Born with a big
Silver spoon in your mouth
And then

There is
The silver cross
Attached to the neckless
Swinging

I think
I prefer to
Fade into the cool gray
Because

Is where
True usefulness
Exists in many shades
Such as



The axe
Blade to chop the
Wood to heat the cold house
And the

Grey cat
To hunt the grey 
Mouse who scavenges in
The Grey

House and
The grey kettle
Screams from on top of the
Grey Stove

The grey
Garbage can bangs
In the backyard alley
Because



A grey
Of the wind and
The grey cloud overhead
Bringing

The rain
To wash the bridge
Leading to the grey road
Crossing

Wizard
Gandalf the Grey
Offers you a chance to
Travel

So you 
Keep the shiny 
Things, I’ll take the useful
Grey ones.

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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