CPC #9: Cinquain Swirl

Cinquain Poetry Challenge #9

The Cinquain Swirl

The Cinquain Swirl is an invented verse form based on the syllable count of two or more Crapsey Cinquains, written without breaks, using L5 of the previous cinquain as L1 of the next cinquain. In other words, like the Butterfly Cinquain, the “extra” 2-syllable line is dropped, creating a 4-line stanza, until the conclusion of the poem. When centered on the page, the lines form a swirling effect.

Syllable count is 2-4-6-8-2-4-6-8-2-4-6-8-2, etc. It can be written in any number of lines that complete the 2-4-6-8-2 cycle.

At Poet’s Garrett, L1 of the first cinquain is repeated on each 2-syllable line as a refrain throughout the poem.

So here in summary, is the Cinquain Swirl:

• a series of Crapsey Cinquains where the last line of each stanza is omitted until the end.
• written with no spaces between stanzas
• minimum of two stanzas, with no maximum
• has a total line length = (4s + 1), where s = number of stanzas, so… 9, 13, 17, 21, etc.
• may rhyme, or not
• may incorporate a refrain on all 2-syllable lines
• looks good centered on the page

Sample:

This sample is not mine. I found it on at PoetsCollective.org and loved it. In fact, my children were humored by it too. Because of its popularity in our home, I simply had to pass it along.

My Blog Swirl

by Frank G. Poe, Jr.

Follow.
You’re hypnotized.
You will follow my blog.
Click on follow; you will follow
Follow.
You must tell friends.
You cannot imagine
Life without following my blog.
Follow.
You need my blog.
Soon you will awaken.
You will not remember this poem.
Follow…

Write Your Own

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

1. 1. Write your poem.
   2. Publish to your blog.
   3. Come back here and click the link to add your post to the linkup.
   4. Encourage your friends to join the party!
   5. Read other people’s posts and leave a comment.

   You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

   Click here to enter