Tracy's Custom Poetry and Writing Services

What does it all mean?

POETIC FORMS

 

Rhyme

Rhyming lines can be grouped in several different ways and can be of any length.

 

Here's one example, inspired by and in response to Joyce Kilmer's Poem "Trees":

Respectfully, Joyce Kilmer...

 

I think that I have never known
a tree as lovely as a poem.

A poem that in a single breath
infuses life, defying death

with words that move in stylish grace
and give emotion resting place.

A poem reflecting life and love
and faith, perhaps, in He above

who gave the world the lovely tree
and the gift of rhyme to fools like me.

Though God made trees and I, this poem,
within its lines I find my home.

 

Here's another example, this one written for my sister's wedding:

I see you as the child you were -
so playful, with that curly hair
saving bugs from spider webs
and hanging ponies everywhere.

Your father's daughter through and through,
you always were so gentle, kind
(thank goodness you got more of that
than our dear mom's neurotic side.)

In safety of the family room,
we staged our famous singing shows
and dance routines, although they drove
our parents crazy, I suppose.

No longer child, you've grown, and now
you sit in whitest wedding dress
and everyone around can see
the two of you are truly blessed.

So Pete, perfect that smile and nod,
put up with her when she's a grouch -
I'd hate to come and visit you
to find you sleeping on the couch.

Love shines from deep within your eyes
and even though this sounds cliché,
I still can see that child, although
you start a new life here today.

I wish your love to always be
your ray of sunshine through the rain,
the bond that gives you strength and helps
to every happiness sustain.

You come together now as one
united in your promise dear
to love and honor, cherishing
the vows that brought and keep you here.

So raise a toast to wedded bliss
and pray this sweetest love shall last,
for if you ever get divorced,
our mom and dad will kick your...

 

Unrhymed (Free verse)

No regular rhyme scheme or meter. 

 

I wrote this one a few years ago, thinking about the redemptive power of love.

on through

With each breath straining against the force of the air
trying to remain in its right place, I live.
 
By will alone (it seems), I am able to move through time.
 
Feet begging for a hint of lightness
in but one labored step, I drag half-consciousness
down these silent paths - the expanse of field to the left
opens into the sky, limitless in blue-green on summer mornings
and to my right, what may be miles of oak and maple shade.
 
I never look into the trees.
 
I am the prisoner of these paths,
walking this narrow divide every day, barely noticing.
I must have, once, to have willingly returned,
before it became what defined me.
 
But I remember when I danced...
  
A glimpse of a gaze, my meditation on serenity,
and one foot recalls a lift, separation from the floors of regret;
the other follows as your lips turn,
softly humming the tune of my only salvation
 
and I find my grace in a moment
of exhalation as you breathe into me.

 

Limerick

Very structured rhythmic and rhyme scheme.  Many people think of limericks as starting with "There once was a man from..." but they certainly don't have to.

 

Sorry to my sister's husband, but my family has a sick sense of humor and my dad (Mark) played a little prank on him at dinner one evening.  Read on to see what happened...

Ode to a Shrimp Tail

The menu, he scanned hungrily
his eyes just as wide as can be.
He said "Oh yes please"
to fries covered in cheese -
his happiness they'd guarantee.

Pete wanted a nice healthy snack,
but Mark had just planned an attack:
he knew that this man
ate as fast as one can,
so a shrimp tail he hid in the stack.

The taters, Pete didn't apprise,
did not even lower his eyes.
He reached for the plate
and careless, he ate
the shrimp tail that lurked 'mong the fries!

It's especially funny to me
'cause Pete won't eat food from the sea!
He really was pissed
but the jokes will persist
as he's part of this family.

So Pete, we're not sorry for it -
in fact, we will surely admit
it's funny to know
that you're living in woe,
dreaming of shrimp tails in your...

Sonnet

Think Shakespeare.

 

I wrote this one contemplating how lingering in the past and spending all our time trying to get back there results in our not being able to move forward into the future.  This is an example of a Shakespearean sonnet.

All that came before

In being caught, and in between
the life we knew and one we crave,
submitting to a force unseen
and paths upon a heart engraved
with silences and moments passed
in certainty or wistfulness,
with grievances withdrawn, amassed,
by roadside left to reminisce.
Align with the immortal ache,
embrace the victor's solitude:
the healing forces will forsake
and history will be renewed

for only hesitation lies
within eternal compromise.

 

...and speaking of Shakespeare, I wrote this sonnet to express my distaste for cliches and bemoan the reliance on the obvious in so many love poems, greeting cards, songs, etc.  This is an example of an Italian sonnet - note the difference in the organization of the rhyming lines.

Shakespeare's Nightmare

Poor William turns and moans within his grave:
Within a phrase, one simple turn can bind
the most creative stirrings of the mind
and poet to cliché becomes a slave.
Exist but in uniqueness and repent
for rhyming verse you penned with “love” and “dove”
and last week’s sonnet found “push comes to shove” - 
the future of our language I lament…

But surely, there must be another choice
than bland insertions placed but for the rhyme
which, with their frequency, are meaningless.
‘Tis poet death to speak with borrowed voice – 
transcend the obvious to reach sublime,
allow poor William his most peaceful rest.

 

Haiku/Senryu

Haiku are often about nature and senryu about people, but the form is the same:  3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, not rhymed. 

 

Here's one I wrote a few years back, while thinking about how unhappiness prevents us from seeing the beauty of the world around us.

The moment of choice

In unison, stars

wink and hum, "you'll never see

us clearly through tears"

 

Song Lyrics

I thank my mother for the ability to do this.  We spent many hours changing the lyrics to famous songs to suit our needs (mostly the need to laugh hysterically).  This one is to the tune of Jingle Bells...feel free to sing along!

The Other Side of Christmas

Dashing down the aisles
goes everyone today,
yelling at the other folks
to get out of their way.
Cash registers ring
as the parents fight
over the last perfect toy
to make their season bright.

Oh...
Shopping malls, shopping malls
strike my heart with fear
noisy crowds do overtake
this festive time of year, oh
Shopping malls, shopping malls
where kindness disappears - 
what happened to goodwill toward man
and spreading Christmas cheer?


I ducked behind a rack
and prayed it would subside,
dreaming of the freshest air
and open space outside.
The parents slowly left
with clothes and toys they'd bought
and everything but Christmas cheer - 
I guess they just forgot.

Oh...
Shopping malls, shopping malls
the worst that it can get:
high prices, chaos, hostile crowds - 
I wish I could forget, oh
Shopping malls, shopping malls,
I'm left but with regret - 
next year I'll do my shopping
on the good old Internet!

 

This one is for anyone who has lived in the vicinity of upstate New York and has had the displeasure of hearing the Marine Land commercials...a hundred million times a season.  My mother and I were especially fed up one day and decided to rewrite the lyrics.  (Never heard it?  Consider yourself fortunate.  If you so desire, you can hear it at www.marinelandcanada.com/video.  Masochist.)

In Niagara Falls, an ad agency
is responsible for what has happened to me
'cause I pull out my hair
throw myself down the stair
whenever I hear this darn ad.

It's on from May 'til late, late fall,
we can't escape - it surrounds us all!
Fifteen times every night -
now that's just not polite!
Somebody stop this darn ad.

I can't believe this stupid song
has been on the air for so damn long!
For the sake of us all,
save us from padded walls,
won't somebody change this darn ad?

Tap into your creativity
and spare us our certain insanity!
There must be another way
aside from moving to Uruguay
to not have to hear this darn ad.

I can't take my family for the day
for fear this wretched song will play.
Cut my ears off with a knife -
it will be a better life
'cause then I won't hear this darn ad!

Whoever wrote this tune
deserves to be shot all the way to the moon,
and he'll have to pay
when they lock me away...
everyone hates this darn ad.
 

 

 

If the form you desire is not listed here, please let me know in the "comments" section of the ordering page - I am happy to accommodate special requests!