I skidded into June without even tapping the brakes. Time seems to slip through my fingers the further I travel down the road. I decided to take a pit stop at the poetic form called a Dansa. This style of poetry, known as an Occitan (the official language of Catalonia) form with no set meter. This lyrical poetry style comes from the Occitan words for “to dance.” I called this Dansa Poem Flickering Lights of Pain. I also used the Random line generator to spark my creativity. The generator’s line suggested, ” Flickering lights of pain morn like a child.”
Guidelines for writing a Dansa Poem and Flickering Lights of Pain
*Opening quintain (Or five-line stanza) followed by quatrains (or four-lined stanzas)
*The opening line of the first stanza is the final line of every stanza
*Rhyme scheme in the opening stanza: AbbaA (Capitol represents the refrain
*Rhyme scheme in the other stanzas: bbaA
There are no other rules.
Note: I will also be adding Black Out Poems as we go along the way. I plan to keep using this style until the book I’m using runs out of pages for me to play with to create these unique and visual poems. I’m excited about jogging down this road.
Flickering Lights of Pain Flickering lights of pain morn like a child A shadow that casts a shadow flow in the dark The stillness of the night interrupted by a dog’s bark The distant moaning of the wind winsome and wild Flickering lights of pain morn like a child Whispered words of love, a splendid spark A thrill ride in life’s amusement park A familiar voice that once beguiled Flickering lights of pain morn like a child Unsalvageable terrain without a single landmark A miserable mystery wearing a giant question mark Waiting here for answers, chilly and exiled Flickering lights of pain morn like a child I should rescue myself from this scenery, strange and stark Brush the sleep from my eyes and ignore your remark But I can’t help feeling deflated and defiled Flickering lights of pain morn like a child
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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