Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Journey's End

Greetings, all! Grace here. You may have noticed the "format challenge" tag moving around a bit--I'm sorry to say this is my last format challenge article for now. I'm looking forward to having time to write and share poems and experiences with you more often, though!

I had planned to write you a very scholarly article on any number of things, but I thought, we so rarely go back and practice things that were novel once. So let us go back and try, try again. If you don't like that idea, feel free to Google "villanelle" and meet my nemesis.

You may choose any of the following, listed from most recent to least: renga (I suggest forming a group of at least three for easiest organization), tanka, fixed-form haiku, tanaga, aubade, a traditional Welsh combination, toddaid, cywydd llosgyrnog, awdl gywydd, triolet, rondeau or rondeau redoublé , rondelet, or roundel.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to have shared all of these forms with you, and now I'm looking forward to being a participant rather than a commenter!

Aside from that, I wanted to leave you with the beautiful renga that we have all created together. I've added the ageku and given it a title. I hope you all enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed watching it come together.

Had I the Words: a Real Toads renga.

Some claim April rain
brings the blossoms of May, but
trees here are hasty

like youth, ardor unrestrained,
eager for Spring's first sweet kiss.

Sakura blossoms
in the arms of Old Man Tree--
drops of moonlit milk.

Showgirls performing a dance
inspir'd by Moonlight's embrace,

their graceful waves in
a risqué spring ballet, legs
kick the silver sky,

stars wink at rainbow feathers
that tease with each fluttering.

My full heart flutters,
I become dancer and dance
under April's moon,

and a blossoming cherry
in the sweet, full warmth of May.

Still, you, resting far
north where snow still flies and melts,
await midnight summer.

Polar day does not circle
on cosmic calliope--

Pegasus gallops
to the music of the spheres
while star clusters spin,

the earth spins on its axis,
hums its music in B flat,

Spring pirouettes ice,
spun sugar and crystal shards,
across the cosmos.

Bright silver vessel, half moon
empties dawn into morning,

the night bids farewell.
Leaving a trail of stardust,
it flies on its way.

Restored to herself, the earth
resumes her orderly spin.

At a loss for words--
coherence has taken flight
on the wings of nerves--

I pluck the blossoming twig,
write the character for "love."

Verses contributed by Art Happens 365, Skylover, Ella, Laurie Kolp, Susie Clevenger, Other Mary, Kay (Alberta, Canada), Sunflower Shan, Jinksy, Caddoc Trellis, Margo Roby, Jules, Misky, The Happy Amateur, Sara McNulty, and Grace O'Malley, with some minor editing by Grace O. 
Individual verse credits can be found here.

15 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

This is so beautiful, Grace, I can't imagine posting something of mine alongside this one of yours. Fortunately, I won't have to, because, as I've already mentioned to the Toads, we're renovating here. I might not have mentioned I'm leaving town for one week of the renovation period, during which I want my husband to get some painting done. Tomorrow I'll fill and sand some of the more blatant holes, and hope I can cover a multitude of sins with my "tin ceiling backsplash".
Wish me luck.
Back in a few weeks.
K

Kerry O'Connor said...

A huge thank you, goes to Grace for her contribution to Real Toads. She really helped to launch this site last year and I so appreciate the high standard she set for her form challenges, and the amount of work that went into researching each post.
I'm certain that many will miss this monthly challenge.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Grace, thank you for your contribution to Real Toads. I look forward to continuing to read your work as a fellow participant. The group renga is truly a work of art. It is amazingly wonderful to read......write on, kiddo, and thanks for what you contribute to this site, that only you can give.

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Thanks so much for all you've contributed here in the Garden, Grace. I've learned so much from your format challenges! Many of the forms you listed predate my participation here, so I'm really looking forward to learning much more :) Have to say I agree with you on villanelles, every attempt I've made in that particular form has ended with me beating my head against the desk!

Marian said...

Grace is leaving?? BOO.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Grace - I've always enjoyed reading your format challenges (and people's responses) even if I think myself format-challenged. And thanks for posting that group renga here - it's beautiful!

Hannah said...

I'm with Mary, in that a lot of these challenges happened before I arrived here in the garden but from what I witnessed of the one I chose to do today, I'm super impressed. You really placed such great attention on detail and made this form a true joy to work with. Thank you, for all the amazing work you put in, Grace, so worth it!!

Hannah said...

Oh, and the group renga is SO amazing!! Great job putting it together and all of your words rendering it beautifully!

Laurie Kolp said...

I've enjoyed your form challenges so much Grace, but I understand! I hope to see you on the Mr. Linky list more.

Susie Clevenger said...

Grace, thank you fore all the work you have done.

Anonymous said...

First, Grace, great composite poem. And I'm sorry I wasn't coming around much to see your prior posts--ane now you are moving on. So sorry. But I did put up a villanelle. It wasn't in your list, but seemed to be a bit of what you were asking for. It's a form I've done a lot. I'm not sure I put up my best one - I did revise this one a bit for this - but I think the others have been more seen. Thanks much. k.

Jinksy said...

I do so wish Blogger could catch up with the days! I'd have loved to join in with this in Wednesday, but none of it appeared on my screen until Thursday! Does Blogger sometime take a nap, I wonder?

It was intriguing to finally get to read that Real Toads renga- thank you!

Ella said...

Grace I will miss you! I found your prompts fun and challenging! Please visit, if time allows! This was beautiful, I feel blessed you encouraged us to come together and create this beauty!

Thank you Grace for all you work and inspiration~ @>------

Sara McNulty said...

How beautiful, Grace. I just found this site, and now you are leaving it. How sad. I have taken up the challenge with a triolet. Thanks, Grace.

Grace O'Malley said...

Thanks, everyone! I'm definitely not leaving. I'm just having trouble juggling commitments and ALSO writing. I love reading these entries. If my schedule ever calms down and there's room in the rotation, we'll see what happens.

This is such a great space. I wouldn't leave!!