10-line Poem Challenge #4: Amphion

The Amphion is another form created by Viola Berg to be used as a teaching tool or learning exercise.

The Amphion is a:

• Decastich written on any subject.
• Having four tetrameter lines alternating with rhymed dimeter couplets.
• No particular rhythm was specified, so you may use whatever you prefer.
• Rhyme scheme: abbaccdeed

Samples

Below are two samples for you. Both are light-hearted, as I try to keep the mood light when learning and teaching a new form. Then when I’m comfortable, I dive deeper into the pool of emotions. Even tomorrow’s poem, though on a more romantic topic, is still rather light, as you will see when tomorrow comes….

Time for Coffee

There’s nothing like a morning cup,
Or maybe two,
Of morning brew.
It’s also tasty after sup,
And oft as soon
As early noon.
I guess to me it’s safe to say
A cup o’ Joe
Is good to go
At any hour of the day.

I wrote this one in iambic (unstressed–stressed) rhythm.
© 2017 Abigail Gronway – All Rights Reserved

Curiosity

Did you ever wonder why
Grass is green,
Steers are lean,
Pigs don’t really care to fly?
Ice is cold,
Bears are bold,
Why the flowers bloom in May?
Lambs and deer
Run in fear?
God created them this way.

I wrote this one in trochaic (stressed–unstressed) rhythm.
© 2017 Abigail Gronway – All Rights Reserved

 

 

Dig Deeper

To find more samples and to learn from those who taught me, check out these sites. All links open in a separate tab so you can easily find your way back here.

Poet’s Collective ~ The forms on this website are not organized in alphabetical order, but he does have at least one sample poem for each form, he even has tags for rhyme scheme. He also has a visual template for every form so you can see the rhyme scheme and stress patterns, as applicable. That is extremely helpful.

Sol Magazine ~ This resource covers much more than just 10-line poems.

“Metric Forms from Pathways for the Poet” ~ This is an outline of information from Pathways for the Poet by Viola Berg (1977), a book for and by educators. This resource also includes more than just 10-line poems, but it helped to fill in the gaps where my other sources were a bit scanty with their information.

Shadow Poetry ~ This is my favorite resource for learning about poetic forms (and not just the decastich), but I have discovered that there is ever so much more to learn than what I can find here. This is, however, a very good place to start.

 

It’s Your Turn!

Now it’s time for you to write an Amphion. Either keep it light like I did, or go ahead and jump into the deep end of the emotional swimming pool. Then when you are ready, share your masterpiece with the rest of us.

Don’t know how? Follow these simple steps…

1. Write your blog post.
2. Optional: Include the tag Decastich Challenge
3. Include a link to this post in your post so I can find you.
4. Publish your post.