Whittled Words – Dodoitsu Poem
Welcome to the weekly series, Whittled Words. A series highlighting the innumerable types and styles of poetry to challenge any creative wordsmith. This week’s selection:
DODITSU POEM
The dodoitsu is a Japanese poetic form developed towards the end of the Edo Period, which came to an end in 1868. As with most Japanese forms, the dodoitsu does not have meter or rhyme constraints, focusing on syllables instead.
This 4-line poem has seven syllables in the first three lines and five syllables in the fourth, and final, line. The dodoitsu often focuses on love or work with a comical twist. While some of the examples below do not have titles, I haven’t found any word on whether dodoitsu traditionally have titles or not.
Examples of Dodoitsu Poems:
AFTERMATH
by Pat Anthony
Spring storms split seed laden trees
No young seedlings will take root
Leaves curl and sap leaches out
Broken heart-wood.
Untitled
by Nurit Israeli
dreamed up in the dark of nights
love stories that could have been −
chapters filled with forevers
erased by daylight.
BREAKFEST IN BED
By Amy
pancakes say good morning, dear
coffee says rise and shine with
a spot of cream, but daisies
whisper i love you
SOMEHOW
By Yassy
poetry torments my heart
poetry conceals my pain
i put my pain on paper
ink soaks up my tears
YOUR EYES
By Brad Osborne
Like twinkling stars in night sky
So filled with great love and hope
My reflection in reply
Looking in your eyes
I hope you have enjoyed this entry to the series, Whittled Words. I look forward to your comments, and if you dare, maybe share your own Dodoitsu poem. Thanks for reading!
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[…] A Dodoitsu poem. […]
commonsensiblyspeaking 
Great collection, interesting reads 👍
Thank you , Vinayak!
Welcome 😊
nice job; it seems as if Japanese poems tend to be quite brief?
The forms I have studied so far from Japan do seem to hold to being brief. It may be a cultural thing I am unaware of. Thanks for reading, Jim! I hope you are finding good stuff to eat!
maybe it’s part of Japan’s focus on efficiency. we have found a few delicious local foods as well as some foods that remind us of home!
two doduistu poems for you
Seeing Mother’s Ghost
While walking in a graveyard
Smelling the nice red roses
Seeing my mother’s sad ghost
A nice view, she says
Love Dodoistu
Love came to me in a dream
Eight years, she haunted my dreams
One day, she walked off a bus
And became my wife
Thank you for sharing these Jake! Beautifully written and perfect to form.