This past Monday, my friend Tamara told me that I should eat beets to get more iron in my system. So I bought a beet. Now I need to eat it. The lines of the triolet above are the lines going through my head.
A triolet is an eight-line poem with a special rhyming pattern that goes like this: ABaAabAB. This means that lines 1, 4, and 7 are the same exact words so of course they rhyme with each other. Lines 2 and 8 are the same exact words, so of course they rhyme with each other, and line 6 rhymes with them. Lines 3 and 5 rhyme with lines 1, 4, and 7. You can test this all in the poem above. I dedicate this one to Tamara, the friend who got me pondering beets.
This week, you may want to try writing a triolet of your own. Or if you don't want to go for the whole form, consider writing a poem with a few repeated lines. Maybe even choose the numbers of lines that you will repeat and where before writing. Writing. Is. Experimentation!
Or, consider writing a poem about (or to) something you do not like. See what arises.
As for me, I will cook that beet you see above. And by weekend's end, I will have a photo of what I cook as well as a report of how I feel about the taste. (Likely fries.) Maybe I will learn to like beets.
Teacher Friends - if you wish to see more of this type of poem, I pinned a few of my other triolets on Pinterest. You will see that I am doing some work there, trying to make my Pinterest world more useful for educators.
Laura is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Small Reads for Brighter Days with a warm and curious excerpt from her forthcoming book WE BELONG. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.
I wish you a week of trying new things, even if you (think you) don't like them!
xo,
Amy
Triolets look tricky to me, but yours flows so easily. I hope you enjoy your beet! They are very tasty cut up in salads, and then you only need to take small bites.
ReplyDeleteI love this triolet! The repetition of the form really suits your feelings about your subject. (I didn't like beets either until I moved to Switzerland. The taste was too ... earthy? for me. I don't know the secret, but Swiss beet salad is delicious and I always feel a bit virtuous when I eat it, knowing how good it is for me, and how actively I used to avoid beets!).
ReplyDeleteI can identify with your poem! My husband is a fan of beets, but I am definitely not. We grow them in our garden. He eats the beets, and I eat the greens, which have a milder flavor. The form of your poem is well suited to the content!
ReplyDeleteI am tickled by your poem, Amy. I just saw an ad that said beet juice is good for you, sort of like your friend's advice. I do like beets, pickled or not but there are a few things I don't like. Fun post!
ReplyDeleteAmy: Thanks, I really need to try a triolet. Why do they seem formidable? This one is fun! I am a beet lover, can you beat that? Steamed or baked, with butter and salt, suits me. You might try yellow ones if you don't like the red... milder.
ReplyDeleteHeehee--I admire your willingness to cook and try them, Amy. I'm not a super beet fan myself. If slivered VERY finely, I can take a few in a salad, but that's about it. They're so pretty and yet so unappealing! I laughed at your poem :>)
ReplyDeleteYou know I love this poem (AND beets), but now I'm giggling at the caption for the photo, too!
ReplyDeleteBeets, not my favorite but I love the color and the poem.
ReplyDeleteThere's a wonderful Haitian beet salad that's always a winner! Love the poem!
ReplyDeleteOoh... can't wait to try...the triolet! Actually, I can do beets, occasionally; prefer them disguised as air-fried chips! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love the triolet form and your poem. Sorry you don't like beets! They are so good for you! I love pickled beets and so - not having written a triolet in ages - I decided to try it. I'll post on April 1. Thanks for the inspiration!
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