Settling For Funky

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 Settling For Funky.

Structure of a cascade poem and Settling For Funky

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.

 Settling For Funky

Stuck waiting there in the dry, soft spot
I search my memory for the right words
And I always wanted to be Emily Dickinson
But I guess I’d settle for being more funky.

It all comes down to the slick idea I bought
Back when I was a poor kid with big dreams
Typing into the night and my mama’s screams
Stuck waiting there in the dry, soft spot.

Ideas are as cheap as fluttering birds,
Fluttering wings take me away from here
Between these walls of longing and fear
I search my memory for the right words

So many reasons I didn’t mention
Made me want to cry
The thing is I had to try
And I always wanted to be Emily Dickinson

Now my rhythms sound clumsy and clunky
While I sit at another kitchen table
And write the only thing that I am able
But I guess I’d settle for being more funky.

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.

Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!

Entry 343: Still Working on Precipice
Keeping a journal has never been one of my strongest pursuits. I …
What I Learned from Participating in NaNoWriMo #7
I started participating in NaNoWriMo in 2014 because of a dare. Someone …
The Arrival
In high school, I had a young teacher straight out of college. …
Entry 342: Examining Next Year’s Goals.
Keeping a journal has never been one of my strongest pursuits. I …

Published by henhouselady

I am the author of Saving the Hen House. I didn't know when I started it would turn into a series. I love to ride motorcycles, the blues, my family, and going on adventures. This old hen rocks.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d