A couple of years ago, we tried dizains — ten-line poems of ten syllables each line.
Our theme then was square, orderly, 10×10 — at least on the surface. Here’s mine.
Now we’re trying them again and our theme is dizzying — an alliterative take-off on dizain.
From square to dizzying in two short years? (I mean, yes, right?)
But interestingly, both of mine are about change. And birthdays. And being on the cusp of something wild. That’s how spring makes me feel, and dizains, too, I guess.
Twelve: On the Precipice
Liz Garton Scanlon
The engine downshifts, ears pop, shoulder falls
away: my twelfth year is this mountain pass,
pushing up toward tree line through rockslide walls.
It’s dizzying (thin air, inertial mass)
and yet, just right – my childhood surpassed.
Here at the top, the altitude is true
the pressure drops, there’s nothing I must do
but navigate curves and elevation.
No time to pump the brakes, take in the view –
I’m headlong downhill for the duration.
For more dizains, visit:
Tricia
Tanita
Laura
Kelly
Sara
Andi
And if you’d like to try our challenge next month, we’ll be writing in the style of Linda Hogan’s poem “Innocence.” Share your poem on April 30th in a post and/or on social media with the tag #PoetryPals. We look forward to reading them!
Now, off to Poetry Friday with you! Enjoy!
Ah, the irony of “there’s nothing I must do
but navigate curves and elevation.” Growing up is hard, and yet…there it is.
I also love the image of you, pushing upwards through rockslide walls. Beautiful.
“I’m headlong downhill for the duration” makes me wonder at what point we reach the top and that truth. I feel the angst of the tween/teen years in that mountain pass.
This is lovely.
Here at the top, the altitude is true
the pressure drops, there’s nothing I must do
but navigate curves and elevation.
That… is just lovely. I have to look back and wonder did anything ever feel not-effortful about growing up? I think there came that point — some young adulthood – when everything did feel balanced… but like with that headlong flight down again, you really never do get to take a breath and just BE — which really prompts one to consider how to fit in those breaths elsewhere in life. I love this! So subtle, yet thought-provoking.
My oldest granddaughter turns 12 in a couple of weeks & we just spoke of this exciting year coming, starting her thirteenth. This shows so much of her feelings expressed. I love it, and I will print & share with her! “It’s dizzying (thin air, inertial mass)/and yet, just right – “
All downhill from here…whee! I love your dizain!
This so captures that dizzying age betwixt childhood and adulthood.
but navigate curves and elevation
That is so clever! Wow, that cusp, that edge, where the shoulder disappears–you’ve captured it beautifully, Liz. I’m glad I’m not 12 again.