Poetry 101: The Lune
By James Matthew Byers
Greetings from the Darque Bard!
Ahhhh … Today’s poetry lesson boasts simplicity. We’re looking at a creation by poet Robert Kelly. His frustrations with the way haikus were mistreated led him to form his own version, known as the lune. It gets its name from resembling a crescent moon, and is also known as “the American Haiku.”
There are no rules, i.e. the nature or seasonal rule hoisted high in the often times misrepresented haiku. Nope. There are 13 syllables, typically broken into 5/3/5 on three lines. You can rhyme, break in mid thought, or just have a poetic free for all. Fun stuff, right?
I’ve attached links for deeper insight. I learned about them from a post by an awesome game designer and poet, the amazing Lester Smith.
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/poets/poetic-form-lune
http://lestersmith.com/2009/05/poetic-forms-haiku-senryu-tanka-and-lunes/
Let’s try some lunes with spooky themes, in honor of the season.
Werewolf drooled around
Meaty flesh
Eating; ripping sound
Ghastly ghosts appear
Spook the weak
Gives the spirits cheer
Vampire wipes her chin
Bloody meal
Left marks on her sleeve
Mummies in their tombs
Shamble round
Moaning pharaoh’s curse
See? Fun, easy, and a welcome break from all the structure I poetically preach. Fill your lines with lunes, and while you’re at it, make one for me! Leave it in the comment space below. Happy writing!
-The Darque Bard
About the Author
James Matthew Byers, the Darque Bard, is a published, award winning poet. He has been in numerous anthologizes, eZines, and magazines, such as Weirdbook, Grievous Angel eZine, and Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. His debut publication, Beowulf: The Midgard Epic, was published in 2016 by Stitched Smile Publications and is a rhyming version of the ancient poem. He has also won or placed in multiple contests in the Alabama State Poetry Society. He resides in Odenville, Alabama, drifting between the forests. A bard’s work is never done.
