It is time to make a switch. I’m in the mood to write a series of acrostic poems. I’ve tackled the task before, but I would like to explore this style of poetry again. It fits my challenge to select different forms of poetry that start with a certain letter during the month. I selected the letter A for January. The acrostic poem has been around for centuries. The first record of the use of this style was in the prophecies of the Sibyl. Legend implies that these poems predict the Trojan War and other historical events. Samples of this poetry also were discovered at Pompeii. I am not hinting that I am writing prophetic poetry. I simply enjoy writing in this style. This acrostic poem is called Out of Charity.
Definition of an acrostic poem and its relationship to Out of Charity
An acrostic poem starts when the poet uses the first letter of each line of verse to form a word, phrase, or sentence. The poem deals with the subject of the letters selected to form a stream of thought. The poem doesn’t have any rules concerning meter or rhythm. A poet may try to do both, but there is no rule regarding how the poem should be formed, except the first letter of each line must have a special meaning.
Out of Charity Once upon a time, there lived Under an old iron bridge The brave beaver family Over the valley and ridge Farmer Sam's strict policy Charity begins at home He thought his theory wise And chose to cover his eyes Righteous self-serving syndrome Ignoring the poor creatures The brave beaver family Yearning for stability
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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