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 A Man About Town.
Structure of a cascade poem and A Man About Town
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.
A Man About Town Such a lair and a man about town But he had no inspiration to ease his mind. There was a better dream waiting for him Somewhere down a winding, crooked road. Hanging around here would only bring him down He had so many more important things to do Then to be left behind and play the clown Such a lair and a man about town So many adventures left for him to find Beyond this place with an unsettling view Where people could be cold and unkind But he had no inspiration to ease his mind. All his possibilities looked exceptionally dim. Tongues wagged, and rumors flew. When staying put looked extremely grim. There was a better dream waiting for him. It’s never a good idea to carry a load Of responsibilities that belong to you. Dreams are waiting out in the distant cold Somewhere down a winding, crooked road.
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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