“Writing Exercises” – Triversen?
Writing Exercises
The wheel cannot willfully–
not new as still-nude dawn–
be invented every day.
Still we work our brains,
poetry our chin-up bar,
re-wrought words our reps.
Expecting (regularly) Inspiration–
she, gartered, glad-handing,
as we, gripping pens, grapple.
Whips away, stockings running;
our words whistle after,
wheezing poetic (at least in part).
We moon till next dawn dawns,
but this time wisps of sibilance
blinker pink and blue.
Thumping rhythmically below,
a flat–tired, but still rolling–
yet another poem.
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What do you write about when you have nothing to write about? Writing!
A triversen is a form I’ve never heard of that was apparently developed by William Carlos Williams. The above is my attempt (ha!), inspired by the challenge (very well-explained) by Gay Reiser Cannon at dVerse Poets Pub for as part of its “Form for All” series. If you are interested in the form, check out Gay’s wonderful article.
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Tags: gartered Inspiration, Give Me a Line!, manicddaily, poem about writing exercises, poem about writing poetry, Triversen, trying to write a poem every day
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ManicDDaily 
June 14, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Love this – the beats work so well
June 15, 2012 at 12:35 am
This is my favorite so far, and I’ve read quite a few. I’d love to hear you read it. Thank you for this. I studied the form today, before writing mine, and you nail it. “poetry our chin-up bar” just made me damn happy. Finally, I am ahead of the jocks. LoL
June 15, 2012 at 6:45 am
Ha. Thanks much. It was a bit hard for me to get the stresses, but interesting. k.
June 15, 2012 at 3:28 am
This is more like it. I think I’m beginning to grasp it now, this Triversen.
June 15, 2012 at 5:35 am
flat tired but still rolling a new poem…haha…like the double meaning in that…and somedays its the best you can do to get words on the page—somewhat poetic…lol…whips away, stockings running, like that line too…smiles.
June 15, 2012 at 6:47 am
Good write, K! I think younailed the form (but what do I know!? Ha!) As to the question; I don’t know. I haven’t gotten there yet! Now… that’s not to say that everything (or anything) I write is good, but I never run out of things to write about.
I did however catch a bit of something familiar in your poem; that wondering if it all has already been writen. I sometimes feel like everything has been said. Nothing is new.
June 15, 2012 at 6:53 am
Hi Charles – you have read my work for a while so you may find something that I’ve repeated. There are many things to write about, you’re right. But my brain gets very tired. This is one reason why I really miss working on something like a novel where you have a flow of narrative to carry you along. I need to get started on something longer, but been pretty busy. Agh! Should not complain. Your imagination and memory are very fertile, I know. It’s wonderful. k.
June 15, 2012 at 6:58 am
Straange you should say that about writing a novel. When I was writing novels, I wrote them one after the other, and agree with you that they are motivating and keep you going. Funny thing is, I haven’t written a novel for several years, but I seem to have the same flow going with poems and short stories. Not the same way as it is with a novel, but the thoughts just keep coming. I have to carry around pen and paper to write them down. My desk pad is a mess of scribbled notes.
And then, I do have the aadvaantage of being retired; this is what I do!! I love it!
June 15, 2012 at 9:19 am
I love poems about poetry and writing ! So this pleases me from the start. I am so amazed, I guess, for lack of the right word at the way this poem adapts to each poet’s voice. It allows for such variety and still holds together – still does that lovely fluid thing. You use devices no one else does, inserting parenthetical or explanatory words between the lines while still meeting the parameters set out.
I like this poem very much, not only what it says, but the how of it. Unique just as you are.
June 15, 2012 at 10:59 am
Well, thanks so much, Gay. That is very kind of you. k.
June 15, 2012 at 9:21 am
I meant to say “this poem form adapts…” above
This is so cool that it accumulates steam as it goes on. Sorry I’m rambling. Liked it very much!
June 15, 2012 at 10:08 am
I agree with everyone above–this poem is a “sit-up-straight” one for those of us who do or teach or both. It shows the mobius strip in time, in perfect form.
June 15, 2012 at 10:27 am
This is fun, k. And you have smoothed down any ruffled feelings the comma may have due to my own neglect of it. ;_) Love the alliteration,(wisps of sibilance especially) the tongue in cheek and the writing about writing about writing about it. Had to try it too, of course, and added a hyphen or two just for you.
June 15, 2012 at 11:27 am
An amazing example of alliteration. The whole flows so well and you’ve chosen some of my favorite words.
June 15, 2012 at 11:37 am
Thanks, Victoria. k.
June 15, 2012 at 11:46 am
flat tires and chin up bars. (particularly love your Expecting inspiration stanza with it’s glad handing). wheezing. flat-tire but still rolling. powerful clarity with a fantastic flow. ~jane
June 15, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Thanks. k.
June 15, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Nicely done, Karin 😉
June 15, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Love that second stanza! You do have a most creative way of presenting your unique spin on things…I like that very much.
June 15, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Thanks so much. k.
June 15, 2012 at 6:48 pm
I like the way you move the verbs like words whistle and stockings running. Well I do write about muses too when I run out of things to say ~ Enjoyed the visit ~
June 15, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Thanks, Heaven. k.
June 15, 2012 at 9:22 pm
I know the feeling K. I am so depleted lately, I won’t push it. I like the way you are able to shape the effort itself poetry. I wish I had the strength of to do so!