The Balance

  • The Balance attempts to create an ebb and flow rhythm. The rhythm is created by a specific syllabic designation per line as well as an intricate rhyme scheme. This verse form was created by Viola Berg.
  • The Balance is:
    • stanzaic, framed in 4 cinquains. The patterns of the cinquains change from stanza to stanza.
    • syllabic,
      stanza 1 =10-8-6-4-2 syllables.
      stanza 2 =2-4-6-8-10 syllables
      stanza 3 =10-8-6-4-2 syllables
      stanza 4 = 2-4-6-8-10 syllables
    • rhymed, rhyme scheme Abcde edcba abcde edcbA. (AbcdeedcbaabcdeedcbA)
    • composed with a refrain, the 1st line of the poem is repeated as the last line.
    • Short Balance by Judi Van Gorder
    • Centered on the page the words resonate
      with sounds of fingers striking
      the computer keyboard.
      Tapping into
      my muse.Good news,
      the verse in due
      time takes shape, strikes a chord
      without inspiration spiking.
      Centered on the page the words resonate.

Pasted from  http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?showtopic=1882#baccresieze

My Thanks to Judi Van Gorder for the wonderful resource at PMO

Specifications restated:
A poem of 20 lines, centered on the page
Syllabic: 10/8/6/5/2 2/4/6/8/10 10/8/6/4/2 2/4/6/8/10
 Rhymed, rhyme scheme Abcde edcba abcde edcbA.
My Sample Poem
Fish wrap is Functional    (The Balance)
The paper tells of babies being born,
while businesses are formed and fold,
and folks grow old and die,
while other’s kill
or cheat
to beat
other’s for thrill
or just because they’re high.
The earth’s getting too hot or cold;
associations steer and hold in scorn
those men who break from ranks and won’t adorn
concepts as right, because they’re old.
Opinions satisfy,
candidates will
just tweet
or greet
with smarmy skill
while business goes awry
and we the sheeple, are controlled.
The paper tells of babies being born.
© Lawrencealot – March 7, 2014
Visual Template
The Balance

Amphion

• Amphion, another 20th century American verse form invented as a teaching tool. It alternates tetrameter lines with dimeter lines, created byViola Berg.The Amphion is:
○ a poem of 10 lines.
○ metered, tetrameter lines alternate with sets of rhymed dimeter couplets.
○ Rhymed, rhyme scheme  abbaccdeed
Super Bowl Sunday by Judi Van Gorder
A day of football at its end,
the bowls of chips
and gooey dips.
Emotions now are on the mend
the ups and downs
the fan base clowns.
The black and gold have got the win,
the players crow,
the losers go
their loss is carried on the chin.
Pasted from
A great thanks to Judi Van Gorder for making PMO a premier resource.
Syllabic 8/4/4/8/4/4/8/4/4
Example Poem
Bar Bully Ballet (Amphion)
He sits there staring at his drink.
his life is bad
and he’s so sad
A bully entered– what’d ya think?
He grabbed the glass
He’s such an ass–
The sad guy cries he is so blue.
“Damn all’s gone wrong,
“Twas my swan song–
Then this ass drank my poisoned brew! ”
© Lawrencealot -November 26,2013
Visual Template
amphion