Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Black (10/15/09)
-
TITLE: Maiden Monchielle | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gillian Dobson
10/16/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Well, let me get to it. No use staring at a blank screen. It’s not going to write itself. Time for some inspiration. Better check out the theme for this week. Oh, it’s another colour. This time it’s ‘Black.’ Hmmm, I’ll have to give that some thought.
How about little black dress? Oh no, makes me think about the one I don’t fit into any longer. Definitely don’t want to go there. Just the thought of it makes me want to sink my teeth into a warm, gooey, sticky, nutty chocolate brownie!
Well, speaking of clothes, what about mourning black? That reminds me, I’ve another funeral to attend next week. Too many of those lately! On second thoughts, it’s not a great subject for a poem? Anyway, how many words rhyme with coffin? ….Boffin? Think that’s a slang word and I’m not sure if they’re allowed. Better try something else.
All Blacks rugby team? I’m still smiling about the Springbok victory in the Tri-Nations cup. Finally!
(Half an hour later) Don’t know why, but I can’t seem to find any inspiration in oval balls, tries and tackles and sweaty men.
I know! How about a black cat? I adore cats after all and I’m sure I could do a poem about a black cat. Should be pretty easy.
Ok, so topic settled; now to check out this Monchielle form. I need to write four stanzas, each consisting of five lines. Each line must have six syllables and the third and fifth line of each stanza must rhyme. And one other thing – the first line of each stanza must be the same. Doesn’t sound too difficult. I think I’ll get the poem down first, then see what kind of title I can come up with. Here goes then:
“Black cat with whiskers grey,
Long tail curls, bright eyes shine,
Soft sleek fur, front paws white,
Meets me at the front door
“Welcome home this cold night.”
Hmmm, this is not as easy as I thought. But I guess that first verse is okay.
Now for the second verse.
“Black cat with whiskers grey,
Curls on my blue bedspread,
Paws hiding eyes of green,
Purrs with gentle rumbles,
Dreaming bowls of thick cream.”
Gosh, it’s pretty difficult keeping to the six syllables per line. Somehow, seven feels more comfortable and it’s a challenge to come up with suitable single syllable words. But let me press on.
“Black cat with whiskers grey,
Stalks mice in fallow fields,
Sharpens claws on tree bark,
Roams through the neighbourhood
Comes home late, after dark.”
I’m getting the hang of this now. Only one verse to go.
“Black cat with whiskers grey,
Stretches out in sunlight,
Preens and licks silken fur,
Tiptoes to my armchair
Curls on lap with loud purr.”
That’s it. I’ve done it. Well, I’m quite proud of myself. Not too bad for a first effort I think. Just need to check for spelling, punctuation and word count, and come up with a catchy title, then I’m done. Ready to submit it.
Oh no! The word count needs to be at least 150 words. My Monchielle is only 100 words long. I can’t believe it. After all that hard work! What am I going to do? I really want to enter this one, but if I add more verses it won’t be a Monchielle, and that was the whole point. What on earth am I going to do?
Think, think. There must be a solution.
Ah, I know…….
Author's note: A challenge to all you aspiring poets out there - why not give writing a Monchielle a try? It's quite a lot of fun.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
It's best not to refer to the actual writing challenge in your entry.
Have you seen that there's currently a thread in the forums about different poetry forms? Look for it in "Jan's Master Class".