Whittled Words – Rhupunt Poem

Posted by Brad Osborne on July 15, 2022 · 12 Comments 

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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:

RHUPUNT POEM

 

I’ll tell you what: These Welsh poetic forms are starting to grow on me. This time around, let’s look at the rhupunt!

The rhupunt has some variability to it, but also some rigid rules as well. I have had fun tinkering around with this Welsh form, and I hope you do too.

Here are the guidelines for the rhupunt:

• The form can be broken down into lines or stanzas (see examples)
• Each line or stanza contains 3 to 5 sections
• Each section has 4 syllables
• All but the final section rhyme with each other
• The final section of each line or stanza rhymes with the final section of the other lines or stanzas

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Examples of Rhupunt Poems:

 

NON-DOMESTIC GODDESS

by Tracy Davidson

 

I want to make
our wedding cake
but I can’t bake
to save my life.

My kitchen skills
are full of spills,
plus broken grills
and burns are rife.

My food from hell
makes stomachs swell,
emits a smell
from here to Fife.

To stop more squeals
it’s ready meals
and fast food deals
for this housewife.

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MOUSE MURDER

By Taylor Graham

No more mice? that might be nice. We thought so, twice, but were we wrong?
In pantry-land, rich contraband. Mouse sleight-of-hand – that thieving throng.
You set the trap and took your nap. Then trigger-snap! Sweet mouse, so long…..
And yet I’ve seen how shy and lean a mouse can keen its mourning song.

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ALZHEIMER’S SNARE

By Marie Elena

 

 consumed with doubt
she mills about
fret snuffing out
her morning prayer

feeling betrayed
she draws her shade
but who will braid
her silver hair

doused inner light
endless midnight
in broad daylight
repeat nightmare

kin she can’t name
in picture frames
they’re all the same
to her despair

no overpass
no underpass
a deep crevasse
that leads nowhere

her mem’ries tossed
her thoughts crisscrossed
again she’s lost
her ev’ning prayer

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A DANCER’S WHISPER

By Brad Osborne

In month of May

as lovers sway

along the bay

a message sent

Being so near

do you not hear

my words in ear

a promise meant

I speak to you

of love that’s true

like ocean blue

a deep descent

Now becomes past

My love doth last

In moonlight cast

Love permanent

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DON’T FOLLOW ME

By Brad Osborne

It is silly to follow me when I can’t see where we should go

To shove and shout, pushing about, when a way out I do not know

If you’re unsure of needed door, I’ll help explore, look to and fro

Do what I can to free each man without much plan, see how it goes

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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 Rhupunt poem. Thanks for reading!

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