CPC #2: Whyquain

Cinquain Poetry Challenge #2

The Whyquain

If this sounds totally made-up, it’s because it is.

The Whyquain was invented by Gloria Kim, a.k.a. Porphery on AllPoetry.com
It is a single verse of 5 iambic tetrameter lines in monorhyme which answers some asked or unasked question.

While most variations we will study start with the Crapsey Cinquain, this model is based on the standard cinquain, which is why I have chosen to introduce it right off the bat.

Whyquain in summary:
• single 5-line stanza
• Rhythm: iambic (unstressed followed by stressed — i.e. e-NOUGH)
• Meter: tetrameter (8 syllables per line)
• Rhyme: aaaaa (monorhyme)
• Must answer a question, either asked or unasked

Often the title is the question and the poem is the answer.

Sample:

“Why Do Cats Purr?”

While dogs can bark and growl and grrr,
And guard, and stealthy thieves deter,
Which earned their place with men for sure,
The cats had only pretty fur,
So asked if God would add a purr.

Note that I am not sure whether the sample poem was written by Lawrence Eberhart or Gloria Kim

Write Your Own Standard Cinquain

Now it’s time for you to write your own Whyquain.

1. 1. Decide what question you would like to answer.
   2. Answer that question in five monorhymed lines of iambic tetrameter (8 syllables).
   3. Publish to your blog.
   4. Come back here and click the link to add your post to the linkup.
   5. Read other people’s Whyquains and leave a comment.