Sunday, October 23, 2011

A Mini-Challenge for Sunday

Bridging the Gap


                                                                                            Storms River Bridge, South Africa


Today's quick challenge is the Puente form.  

"Puente" means "bridge" in Spanish, and the so-named poetic form is built around one. This intriguing form was invented by poet James Rasmusson and described by ShadowPoetry.com.

Constructed in three stanzas, the first and third are separate thoughts, conditions or elements, but share an equal number of lines (at the poet’s discretion) and the center "bridge" stanza. This middle stanza is but one line and is enclosed in tildes (~) to distinguish itself as both the last line of the first stanza and the first line of the last stanza.
The meter and rhyming are at the poet's discretion, free verse being perfectly acceptable. The title has no guidelines;  it doesn’t have to match the bridge stanza like the example below.
(Author: Jack Huber)
Example
To Find a Better Life

“I can’t read or write
but experience taught me
wrong from right”
were grandpa’s final words as Roberto
began his journey on the migrant trail

~to find a better life~

he’d suffer hunger, thirst
and blistered feet to
leave the Mixteca world
of the Zapotec to become
a stranger in a strange land.


Copyright © 2008 James Rasmusson
As printed on ShadowPoetry.com

This link remains open all week for anyone who would like to post a poem later than Sunday.

18 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

I have linked an old poem, written when I first attempted this form (actually back when I was first attempting poetry - Yeesh!). It's flawed, but will serve to get the ball rolling.

Rinkly Rimes said...

I'd never heard of a Puente so mine is a first attempt. I like the idea.

Kenia Santos said...

Beautiful form and I had never heard about it before. I'm not sure I'll be able to take the challenge but I'll visit the participants. <3

Unknown said...

This is gonna be fun! Thanks, Kerry!

Liz Rice-Sosne said...

I posted. To my own blog, I thought. But my post is here. I apologize as I look for a manner to remove it.

Kerry O'Connor said...

No harm done, Old Raven. I think it would be better if I removed the post, since it is your personal response to the challenge, and then you can repost it on your blog...just to avoid confusion. I think the pics are beautiful and should be part of your archive at Crow's Fete.

Abin Chakraborty said...

one of those rare occasions when I have managed to respond to a form and a prompt - hope like it.

Kay L. Davies said...

I used something I wrote long ago. The bridge line was always there, meant to be a bridge but not recognized as a poetic form.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

Laurie Kolp said...

I really enjoyed this. Thanks, Kerry!

Kenia Santos said...

Although I haven't written anything for this challenge, I really think I'd love to write Puentes, their flow is so beautiful and I love the poems linked here.

Peter Goulding said...

God, its a great education I'm getting - first awdls now puentes!

Marian said...

that is a lovely form, thank you, kerry!
i'll be back to read all of your poems, friends. xo marian

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for introducing me to this poetic form and for sharing your brilliant example.

Anonymous said...

amazing form. these things take me a while, but i really like this. heading out to see everyone's work!

Lolamouse said...

Never heard of this form before but I enjoyed trying it! Thanks.

Lorna Cahall said...

I loved finding this form. How interesting.
Thnaks.

Susie Clevenger said...

Interesting form..not sure I captured it, but I gave it a try.

Anonymous said...

Puente is probably too fine a name for my poem, so I'll just call it a bridged double etheree... :)