Rictameter

I wanted to make this Monday’s writing exercise a poetic one, but I didn’t feel like doing anything complicated — so a rictameter seemed to be about perfect :) The rictameter is a fun form of poetry that anyone who can count syllables can do. Really. If you can count to ten and have an imagination, the sky is the limit :)

A rictameter is a nine line poem with set syllables in which the first and last lines are identical. The syllable count for a rictameter is 2,4,6,8,10,8,6,4,2 - see? Easy peasy.

Allow me to offer a couple examples from rictameters of my own.

Lazy
by Rhonda Parrish

Lazy –
Get out of bed
You’ll sleep the day away.
Dreams are nice, but you’ve just one life
You don’t want to live with your eyes shut tight.
The sun is high, there’s much to do
That can’t be done asleep.
Wake up! Get up!
Lazy.

Originally published in La Fenetre July 2007

Coffee
by Rhonda Parrish

Coffee
fuels my day.
Caffeine pumps through my veins
keeping me wired and awake.
I may not be able to sleep at night
but that is just the price I pay,
the cost of worshiping
my deity -
Coffee

Originally published in the January 2008 issue of The Shine Journal

Because of the diamond shape these poems usually form (though ‘Coffee’ proves to be an exception), they are usually presented centered. Unlike haiku there is no typical subject for a rictameter. I’ve written them about BDSM, zombies, coffee…you get the picture.

As always, don’t forget that I believe rules are made to be bent or broken. If you don’t feel like having your first and last lines be identical, don’t. If you really really want a line but its syllable count is off, use it — just call it a nine line poem rather than a rictameter. These exercises are meant to be inspiring or offer incentive, not to box you in. Enjoy.