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 Not for Wimps.
Structure of a cascade poem and Not for Wimps
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.
Not for Wimps Old age isn’t for wimps, Or so I heard it said. There is only one thing I know for sure But none of us are going, To make it out of here alive Yes, we all walk with limps. It’s because of the bad knees There was a day when we rambled Like we were walking on a breeze Old age isn’t for wimps. Old is better than dead The only two options with age The Grim Reaper will turn the page Geriatric is a catching disease, Or so I heard it said. I’ve searched, but there is no cure For the passing of time And I don’t think it’s such a crime For me to creep, crack, and sneeze There is only one thing I know for sure. The young they never see it coming Believing they have eternal youth There is one simple truth The wind will blow, and old bones freeze But none of us are going. We tell ourselves lies to survive It’s easier not to know Because anxiety would grow And a young heart would attempt, To make it out of here alive
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Nah, I know I’m getting older, but age is much better than dying and never amounting or having the best days of life be in my youth. I hope I age with grace and maturity and still have a life and enjoy it and not worry about beauty or anything else.
I literally just hope I don’t feel bad for being old when I get old because everyone I know hates it and I don’t want to hate it. I want to enjoy it.
I’m not enjoying youth right now and a lot of older people (some not even past 60) make me dread my life or make me feel bad for existing.
I tend to think that not everyone finds old people ugly, useless, or embarrassing. I don’t. I can’t be the only one in the world, yet when I say my opinion, especially to older people, they just say wait until I get older.
I’ve never been beautiful, perfectly able-bodied, thin, and worth talking to. I’m average, kind of boring, and tall and nobody misses out of me. I don’t think I’d lose anything. If I am only special or worthy if I’m youthful, then why have humans value long age and staying alive if they hate themselves for the rest of their life for one gray hair or droopy skin. Shouldn’t we just have kids (if we want) then die at thirty or forty because some people throw a hissy fit when they’re older than that? (Not talking about you, but my peers.)
Like dang, is it that bad? Is it awful? Is it even worth living?
I’m already mildly neglected from my peers so when I gain extra years, am I just going to dissolve into nothingness?
My mom, who also laments her old age, says that I gotta find the right people to be around but I’ve yet to find one person who isn’t like that and trying to stay youthful psychologically and physically or an older person who’s angry because they’re older and have to say they admire children’s ignorance or whatever (when they don’t) or whatever young thing I can’t think about it.
I don’t know. It’s like I’m stuck.