Ladders: A Poetry Lesson
An experiment in words and rhythm.
Years ago, I experimented with what I call Ladders, lists of words that create an image or feeling. Sometimes there are phrases in this list to express a certain detail or action, such as, a noun followed by a verb that completes a sentence. At times, there are three words in the phrase. There's also a rhythm formed when the words are read aloud, but it isn't mandatory. It just seems to happen.
In my book When the Horses Come and Go, the poem Summer Day Ride illustrates how a rhythm could happen with two- or three-word lines:
Summer Day Ride
stiff brush
bristles over
bay mare
dust and dander
stray hair
scatters over
strong hands
stroking softly
bay stands
heat weary
hangs head
eyes leery
saddle cinch
ears flicker
teeth chomp
bridle licker
hoof pick
digs frog
hoof stomps
misses dog
tails switch
flies pester
bug spray
from the mister
mount up
nose to tail
move ‘em out
along the trail
no clouds
sun can’t hide
summer day
ride.
Much the same thing happens with the Ladders, showing how words can create their own melodies by how they are placed together. The consonants emphasize the beat as the vowels fill in the echoes. Here are five ladders that I hope will inspire you to write your own. Dare I also call them word doodles?
Here two words form a phrase:
Cat
Settles
Lap
Blanket
Snug
Yarn
Distracts
Claws
Snap
Filament
Shreds
Head
Rests
Hands
Still
Snooze
Begins.
Here are three-word phrases of nouns and adjectives, no verbs:
Lilacs
Spring
mountain
harbinger
sunny
garden
playmate
hearty
snow
survivor
russet
seed
provider
tough
lacey
shelter.
This poem lists two-word phrases of adjectives and nouns:
Runes
Oak
Groves
Mysterious
Rites
Rough
Stones
Waxy
Nubs
Ancient
Symbols
Hidden
Knowledge
Lost
Forever.
And then there are the two-word subject-verb phrases:
Pico De Gallo
Jalapeno
Minced
Cilantro
Chopped
Garlic
Crushed
Scallion
Sliced
Tomato
Mashed
Avocado
Diced
Corn
Grilled
Lime
Squeezed
Taco
Chip
Crunch
Yum
Boating
Motor
Rumbles
Rotors
Churn
Water
Geysers
Prow
Cuts
Spray
Chills
Waves
Jolt
Boat
Rocks
We
Squeal
Delight
Now it’s your turn…
Sue writes
Tabby reads
Others too
Coffee sipped
Morning begins
Thoughts perk
Tonya tallies
Likes mount
My turn
Give it
A go
Juke inspires
Create anew
Different minds
And point
of view
Thank you, Constance. I'm glad you had fun with this. Brief poetry, I've found recently, really focuses on the heart of the matter. Jason McBride's Ten Haiku challenge gave me an excellent vehicle to alleviate some losses I've had this month. Poetry drives away the demons once we've speared them with keen words. Sleep well, my friend.