Whittled Words – Trimeric 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:
TRIMERIC POEM
I’ve really been having fun trying out new (to me) poetic forms recently, but I think the trimeric may be one of my favorites. Invented by Charles A. Stone, the rules are pretty simple:
- Trimeric has 4 stanzas
- The first stanza has 4 lines
- The other three stanzas have 3 lines each
- The first line of each stanza is a refrain of the corresponding line in the first stanza (so 2nd stanza starts with the second line, third stanza starts with the third line, etc.)
Note: No other rules concerning line length, meter, or rhyme.
Examples of Trimeric Poems:
ABOUT SUPERHEROES
by Robert Lee Brewer
The thing about being a superhero is
you never get to be with the person you love
for more than a couple story lines. It’s almost
like being a superhero is a cruel curse.
You never get to be with the person you love,
because they’re being kidnapped or killed or you find
out they’re the bad guy you’ve been slugging it out with
for more than a couple story lines. It’s almost
as if your personal life is a magnet for
drama, though that’s what got you here in the first place—
like being a superhero is a cruel curse,
but you continue to show up even when no
one knows you’re saving them, because you know you can.
WHISKEY WORKS
By Lawrencealot
(Variation that incorporates a rhyme scheme)
He zig-zagged up the steep hill
much too drunk to walk a line.
Winter weather laid down a chill
with ice on that steep incline.
Much too drunk to walk a line
he headed home, had time still.
Unless he fell he’d be fine.
Winter weather laid down a chill
as he staggered up the hill.
He’d make it; he had the will.
With ice on that steep incline–
(he had lots of time to kill)
his anti-freeze worked just fine.
WHO ARE YOU?
By Brad Osborne
How do we truly see ourselves?
Are we the sum of what others say?
Individuals have such a biased view
There is much more to us I believe
Are we the sum of what others say?
The narrow words spoken by them
Try to make us fit in a rigid box
Individuals have such a biased view
Colored by their own wants and fears
Painted in a way they can understand
There is much more to us I believe
More than any other can possibly know
The truth of who we are, owned by us alone
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 Trimeric poem. Thanks for reading!
commonsensiblyspeaking 
I like the structure of this poem as well. It reminds me of writing a paper. The first stanza is like the outline, and then each stanza after that expands on the outline.
And I hope we are more than what people say or think about us…
well done, Brad!
Thank you, Jim!
This is a very interesting structure Brad. One can get pretty creative utilising these styles that you teach us through this great series. Thank you 😊
Thank you, my friend! I really enjoy writing this series and glad it holds something for the readers. Enjoy your weekend!
Another great style Brad. I liked your examples and I love your poem. Your are right people do like to put people in a box they can understand. Different makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Good thing we are poets we won’t be put in a box.
Nicely done my kind friend. Have an amazing evening Brad. Sending love 💕 Joni 💖
Thank you, Jonikins! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Sending love in return! 💖