Dodoitsu: A four-line form from Japan with a defined syllabic structure (7/7/7/5) and a focus on work or love. Often funny.
Ekphrasis: Originating from the Greek word for description, ekphrastic poetry engages with or is inspired by a piece of visual art.
This month my pals and I challenged ourselves to write one or more ekphrastic dodoitsu, based on photos we offered up to each other. I really had fun with this prompt, although I left quite a few, well, we’ll call them dodos, on the cutting room floor. Here are the few left standing:
(Photo Credit: Laura Purdie Salas)
APPLE LOVE
Your rootstock grafted to mine
promised sweetness and pink shine
till love turned to vinegar.
You’re just plain rotten.
(Photo Credit: Tanita Davis)
TWO DOLLAR BILL
Oh, look – Thomas Jefferson!
You have been discontinued!
Not up for a hard day’s work,
what is your value?
(Photo Credit: Mary Lee Hahn)
BRICK BY BRICK
The writer stacks word by word,
building beauty out of bricks,
mortar made of metaphor.
And then, she re-reads.
You can read more here:
Andi
Laura
Kelly
Mary Lee
Tanita
Tricia
Sara
And Poetry Friday is at Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s The Poem Farm!
Next month we’re writing poetry “In the style of…” Taylor Mali! Join us?
So fun! You have the rhythm of these down; I love the build to the punchline in each one, and the precise, vivid words. That Apple Love is probably my favorite, but it’s hard to pick.
My father has given out two dollar bills to his grandchildren for years, so I will definitely need to share your poem with them! Tom’s value lives on!
My favorite here is “Brick by Brick”. I love the implication of what is noticed in the re-read; so much like what is noticed when the mason steps back to view the wall.
AH – the rereading of the words stacked! I love that the wall represents a work before revision. All the crooked will be made straight, indeed.
That apple made me laugh, though. From pink shine to rot in just a few words…
You’ve captured so much in these poems and I love that you’ve written to so many images. I appreciate the buildup and turn in each one. I can’t decide whether I favor Apple Love or Brick by Brick more. The last line of Brick by Brick is a gut punch and so true.
“Apple Love” cracked me UP, Liz. Thank you for these. I’ve loved reading them all and thinking about the form. Thank you, too, for your absolutely fabulous class through The Writing Barn. It was perfection, and I am grateful. xo
Hahaha–I heard, “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch,” upon reading the first one. And that second one–so sly and pointed. But the third one…lately, I feel perched atop a crumbling brick wall of my own creation, so this one really connected with me. Great turn on that last line.
I laughed OUT LOUD when I read that last one! Oh, brick wall, so much good has come from you! (Maybe I should take our poems to Emmett’s and see if they want to create a gallery!!) And poor Tom got some serious snark in these poems!
I’ve loved all those written about that brick wall, Liz, & yours is a bit different, love the writing reference. Yet, the apple bite, “You’re just plain rotten.” is really funny, love it, too.
All three connect, but I’m loving “Brick by Brick.” That fatal step back….
I am loving reading all the poems inspired by the same photos. I particularly love the brick photo, and I like your literary take on it!
I especially like your dodoitsu to old Tom Jefferson for I wrote a similar one to him too! Wow— “mortar made of metaphor,” and thanks for the rotten apple laughs!