Well, I think it’s time to name my new poetic form. I thought about a few possibilities, but since one of the predominant — and most noticeable — aspects of this new form is that the syllable count for the five lines of verse is calculated in multiples of three, that number seemed a good choice to focus on for the name. Also, wanting this form to stand out as a truly ‘American’ creation, it seemed like a fun idea to look to my Cherokee heritage for the proper word. After all, how much more ‘American’ can we get than one of the original tribes of people who inhabited this continent long before any white men set foot on it?
So, borrowing the word for ‘three’ from my Cherokee culture, I am christening this new poetic form with the following name:
Tso’i — (pronounced “cho-ee”)
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And now for one more example of Tso’i. Just a little something relating to this task of choosing a name.
CHOOSING A NAME
Giving birth
To a new form of verse
Requires a unique name to convey unique worth:
One kind to themes of hope,
Love, and mirth.
I’d also like to extend the invitation again to all my readers: If you’d like to try your hand at writing a poem in this form, please come back here and share it — or the link to it — in the “Comments” section below.
Here are the particulars once more:
The form has 5 lines.
Lines 1, 3, and 5 must have end rhyme.
Line 1 has 3 syllables.
Line 2 has 6 syllables.
Line 3 has 12 syllables
Line 4 has 6 syllables
Line 5 has 3 syllables
Lines 1 and 5 use dactyl meter.
Lines 2, 3, and 4 use iambic meter.
Subject matter and theme are open to the poet’s imagination and preference.
I still find Tso’i a little difficult, even though I created it, but it’s been worth the challenge. It’s definitely worth a try if you love writing poetry. So, come on: try it and have some fun with me.
photo: LunarSeaArt @ pixabay.com
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POETRY BY AHYOKA 
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