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.
- The first line ends with line A.
- The second line ends with Line B.
- 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
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love this
This one is amazing.☺️
Thank you.