Perfect Story

Udit Bhatia invented cascade poetry in 2007. This relatively new style of poetry got its name because it should flow down the page in a waterfall effect. The poem’s structure is simple and relies on the refrain to create the cascading rhythm. The magic of these poems centers around the refrain. The unmetered poems vary in theme depending on the poet’s desire. The only rule used when writing a cascade is that all the lines in the first paragraph are repeated at the ends of every stanza that follows. I will call this cascade poem Perfect Story.

Structure of a cascade poem and Perfect Story

The first stanza has three lines.

1. The lines are represented as ABC.
2. The first line ends with line A.
3. The second line ends with Line B.
4. The third line ends with line C.

I had written this form of poetry before and had fun with it. I plan to start the month of March using this style. The length of the stanza can vary. There is no rule about sticking to three lines. The thing to remember is that the longer the stanza, the more complicated the poem.

Perfect Story

I read the last word of Anna Karenina─
Closed the book and returned it to the shelf.
I ran my fingers through the crinkles of the spines, 
Searching for the perfect story.

Anna, the perfect word picture of a ballerina
Pirouetting across the page
Until she vanished under the train
 I read the last word of Anna Karenina─

I would have found a different answer myself
Life is too short to be lived in rage
It is better lived with a sweat refrain
Closed the book and returned it to the shelf.

I want to find a story with twists and twines
That could be acted out of a well-lit stage
With the right amount of uncertainty and pain
 I ran my fingers through the crinkles of the spines.

I came across J.D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey
Catcher in the Rye was once my perfect mind cage.
I let the idea seep into my brain
Searching for the perfect story.

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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