Fun with form
The Lanterne
A lanterne is a type of cinquain poetry consisting of five lines. It is centred around counting syllables in a specific order. The form is a minimalist form from Japan consisting of fewer syllables than the more commonly known haiku. The syllable count is as follows.
One syllable
Two syllables
Three syllables
Four syllables
One syllable
The first line typically introduces the subject, the middle lines build and deepen the imagery, and the final line provides a succinct conclusion. They are often on love or nature or follow the feeling of a haiku in the sense that they capture a small moment. Here is an example:
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When centred, the poems represent the shape of a Japanese lantern
Air
below
pushing me
towards the blue
sky
This is one of my favourite lanternes I wrote even though it verges on the edge of making sense.
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The part I find the hardest is the end line. If you try and write these and struggle the same as me, you can always repeat the first line. For example:
Ghosts
hold hearts
in their hands
as they haunt us.
Ghosts.
Complete these poems
To help get into the swing of writing these poems, complete the ones I have started below.
Books
open
Sleep
calls me
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Write a lanterne about the following
Challenge yourself to write poems in different environments, as this changes our process. We are forced to create things differently, and even though the difference might be slight, it can have a big effect.
- Look out of your window and write a lanterne about what you see
- From a bus, train or car, write a lanterne of a place you would like to be
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Please share any poems you write because I always love reading your creations. If you need more guidance or anything at all, please reach out. Until next time
Keep kind and stay true, Woofenberrys