February Thunderstorm

It’s time for me to switch my poetic styles this month. The winter is dragging on, and I wanted to jazz things up a bit. I came across the Bop Poetry style and thought it sounded interesting. Afaa Michael Weaver created this style at an African American poetry retreat at Cave Canem. I love the simplicity of this verse style because the rules are very simple. There is no thyme structure, and the stanzas are unmetered. I call this Bop Poem February Thunderstorm.

 The simple rules of Bop Poetry and February Thunderstorm

The poem is three stanzas long.

The first stanza is six lines long and lays out a problem.

The second stanza is eight lines long and explores or expands the problem.

The third stanza is six lines long and gives a solution or failed attempt at resolution of the problem,

There is a short refrain between the stanzas.

I think this style will be fun to explore. You are welcome to join me while I explore this poetic style. I’m not certain if I can pull off this switch. It is challenging to come up with a new poem every day. I hope you have as much fun reading these attempts as I am writing them now if I can only capture the laid-back feel of the Bop in February Thunderstorm.

 February Thunderstorm

Sometime in the night,
The storm started to build. 
Lightning flashed, and thunder rolled.
We were awakened with fright.
Rain poured from the sky
And we wondered about the wind.

It’s strange weather for February when the sky starts to cry.

There is a rumbling
Like a freight train
That sounds like a tornado.
What’s to be done 
Trudge next door to the basement
Or switch on the television?
Flash flood and a wind advisory
Flash on the screen.

It’s strange weather for February when the sky starts to cry.

There’s talks about flooding
And the rising of the creek
Two blocks down the street
We can’t remember when it last
Spilled over its banks
So we go back to bed.

It’s strange weather for February when the sky starts to cry.

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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