Invented Poetry Forms – The Octameter

~ Paul Szlosek

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I wish to thank Linda J. Wolfe for introducing me to the octameter poetry form which she posted as a writing prompt on her online Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine. The octameter, originally invented by Shelley A. Cephas, is a 16 line poem consisting of two stanzas of eight lines each. Because of the name, one might expect the form to be written in octameter (lines of eight metrical feet), but instead, each line consists of 5 syllables apiece. The rhyme scheme is rather complex – xxabxbxb cxacxcbb (x representing non-rhyming lines).

I was so intrigued by the form I tried writing one right away and submitted it to Linda’s magazine for a poetry contest she was running. To my utter amazement, it was selected as the winner! The poem, which was not submitted under my own name but my WordPress account of a photoblog that I also run, was published on Linda’s site. However the version that was originally posted, I later discovered, was altered somehow (either by an electronic glitch or editorial choice) with changes to some of the words and line breaks resulting in a violation of the strict 5 syllables per line rule thus disqualifying it as a true octameter. So here is the original version which follows all the rules and can serve as a model if you do decide to try your hand at writing one:

Seasonal Disorder

Like a schoolyard fad,
Summer always fades,
leaving you to mourn
the loss of its light.
Please try to ignore
now premature night,
dying greenery,
fields shrouded in white.

Your thoughts, dense as lead,
weigh your spirits down.
Your body’s so worn,
it won’t rise from bed.
Old snow forms black scabs.
All songbirds have fled.
Spring, nowhere in sight,
is late (just for spite).

Published by Paul Szlosek

Paul Szlosek was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, but currently resides in the nearby metropolis of Worcester. He was co-founder and host of the long-running Poet’s Parlor poetry reading in Southbridge and Sturbridge, as well as a past recipient of the Jacob Knight Award for Poetry. His poems have appeared in various local publications including the Worcester Review, Worcester Magazine, Sahara, Concrete Wolf, and Diner. He’s probably best known in the Worcester poetry community for his fanatical obsession with obscure poetry forms, and has invented his own including the ziggurat, the streetbeatina, and (most recently) the hodgenelle.

19 thoughts on “Invented Poetry Forms – The Octameter”

  1. Oh,I love the sound of this poetic form Paul. And your final line of your poem is a fabulous line, that gives truth to the tone of the poem, bringing an ironic but snarky tone, rather than just simple whinging.

    I’m going to have to attempt my own Octameter poem now, thanks! I love finding new poetic forms,

    Cheers!

    Like

    Reply

      1. I’ve had a go at writing one, but it certainly is tricky to get it right. Mine so far is a long way from being good poetry! Tomorrow might bring a better result!

        Like

  6. That’s a great poem. The snow with black scabs, what a visual. Winter is like a wound, isn’t it. Thank you for showing the form. It looks like you can get a fair amount said in one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Pingback: #MM — Photo Challenge — Ship of Fools and dVerse — On Climate Crisis – Tao Talk
  8. Pingback: Invented Poetry Forms – The Octo – Paul's Poetry Playground

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