Suburban Lanes

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 Suburban Lanes.

Structure of a cascade poem and Suburban Lanes

The lines are represented as ABC.

1. The first line ends with line A.
2. The second line ends with Line B.
3. 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.

Suburban Lanes

Take a night trip into the country.
Drive a couple of miles down the road
Watch close or you will miss the place
And roll right past the Suburban Lanes

The exterior is a little bit dumpy
And the parking lot might be bumpy
But it’s the best bowling alley for miles
Take a night trip into the country.

The trip is rough when it’s snowed
To hear heavy balls rolling down a wooden alley
And see flashing scoreboards tracking the tally
Drive a couple of miles down the road.

Gutter balls disappear without a trace
Strikes aren’t ever that common
If you are lucky, you will pick up a spare.
Watch close, or you will miss the place

Some lose their marbles; others have some brains.
Some stay sober, and others drink beer.
At least you know all the people here,
And roll right past the Suburban Lanes

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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