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Writer's pictureAlana DeVito

Trying a Tricube...

Updated: Apr 20, 2021

I had never heard of a tricube... it sounds way too mathematical for poetry, first of all. Then again, I DO enjoy mashing together different disciplines, so... my interest is peaked.

I read about it on Matt Forrest Esenwine's blog and had to give it a go.


A tricube is a poem consisting of 3 stanzas, each of which have 3 lines, which each have 3 syllables (hence the name, tricube: 3x3x3 = 3 cubed).


Here's my inspiration: an early morning dog walk. I love when I am able to get out early, when it's still quiet, when the colors in the sky change minute-by-minute... and I am reminded that every day is a new opportunity, filled with potential. I wish I was able to do this every day... but there's work, schedules, comfort, sleeping... and all the other things that get in the way.



SUNRISE


Sunrise wakes,

whispers: look…

notice me...


Colors shift,

fading fast --

reminds me:


Each day brings

promise and

potential.


********


Thinking more on sunrises, colors, and contemplation, I recently saw this Mark Rothko painting on a visit to MoMA...

I'd love to give my students a choice of paintings to look at and see how works of art can inspire poetry... then how their poetry can inspire a new work of art... and round and round we go... But more on all that later.



Have you tried a tricube? Give it a shot! It's a lot of fun, to write within such tight parameters. I'd love to read your tricubes, too, so drop one in the comments if you're feeling up to it!





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