Saturday, June 4, 2011

Unforeseen (Etheree)

Skies
laden
with moisture
burst open--first
hail, then rain, heavy
enough to flatten plants
and small shrubs. Water rushes
along the road flooding storm drains.
Warnings flash across the T.V. screen:
"Tornado approaching. Take shelter NOW!”

Huddled in our basement, we watch the screen--
see clouds gather, spinning, on the move.
Quickly, vortex crosses river,
swallowing up debris, trees;
ripping roofs off buildings;
tearing up Main Street.
Eastbound, it hits
nineteen towns--
we are
spared.

©  Copyright Ginny Brannan June 2011

 On June 1st, 2011 a very rare and almost unheard of phenomenon occurred here in Western Massachusetts. A category F3 tornado touched down,  and tracked 3-1/2 miles south of where we live on it's 46 mile path across the state. 
*The tornado forms." Photo taken by author of TV screen from live broadcast local news. 
Etheree
The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables.  Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  This is a Double Etheree with more than one verse,  where the second verse is an inverted syllable count. Free verse style, unmetered.
Posted: BlueBell Books Short Story Slam



 

13 comments:

  1. I LOVE this.

    Beautifully written, and the form is divine. I am a freak for formal poetry.
    Plus, being from Kansas, the subject manner sent chills through me. I'm glad you are all ok over there. I'll probably put something up on the story slam as well.

    Please consider me a follower. Just don't tell the poet. This pseudonym is supposed to be concentrating on fiction, and I don't want him boasting "I TOLD you that you would never be able to ignore your love of poetry!"

    Nice work. Very nice work.

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  2. A well crafted piece. I couldn't write anything like this (coming from UK where we don't have tornadoes) so mine is just a miserable rainy day. I like this, I'm glad you were spared :-D

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  3. Oh my I am glad you are well first of all! I love the shape of the poem it looks like a tornado very clever. Such fantastic imagery, beautiful written

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  4. Happy to know that you and your family is safe.

    your words describing the tornado sky is vivid and beautiful.

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  5. Thanks for the poetry lesson - it's my first time encountering this type of poem , which is very interesting ! The shape and content perfectly describes this phenomenon - well done !
    Glad to know that you and your family were not harmed during this terrible ordeal !
    ~MISH~
    http://writer-in-transit.co.za/bluebell-sss-prompt-no-3-grey-stormy-moment/

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  6. Shadow Poetry is a great resource for poetry forms. If you click on each type of poetry, it will explain it and give examples:
    http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html

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  7. Awesome poem! Those were terrible storms that hit Mass. Glad you were spared.

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  8. the shape of this poem makes it really unique! nice!

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  9. Love the structure, flow, and descriptions in this poem. I've been in a tornado in New Hampshire and near several tornadoes in Texas and I could relate to this poem. Great job!

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  10. Eleven years ago our community was hit with a tornado, your write just flowed with the memories - well done!

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  11. Sorry I'm late getting around. I too like the shape your poem took, visually as well as emotionally.

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  12. Lovely poem, both in thought and form!

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  13. Very well done, I enjoyed this very much, thanks!

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Thank you for reading my poetry and sharing your thoughts.