Simply Love
Sweet
Scented
Sensation
Love truly pure
I love you, I always do, I promise
No, nothing can change that’s constant I swear
Come rain or shine
I will brave
For you
Dear
Double Tetractys
First, let’s define a Tetractys. It sounds like the number 4 should play a significant role, but in my opinion, at least, the connection is a stretch at best. But we’ll go with it because the term has been around longer than you and me both.
The Tetractys was invented by British poet Ray Stebbing, but he didn’t invent the name. Euclid, the great Classical mathematician, believed that the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 must have some mystical significance because their sum was 10. He called this relationship a Tetractys. Thus, a Tetractys is four numbers whose sum is 10.
So what does that have to do with poetry? Well, Ray Stebbing learned about Euclid’s Tetractys and decided to use it to create a new stanza of five lines with a syllabic count of 1-2-3-4-10. He further stated that each time an additional set of five lines is added, the syllabic count is to be reversed.
Thus a Double Tetractys (the object of our study today) would have a syllabic count of 1-2-3-4-10-10-4-3-2-1.
A Triple Tetractys would look like 1-2-3-4-10-10-4-3-2-1-1-2-3-4-10, and so forth. As you can see, like the Etheree, the Tetractys may also be reversed.
Mr. Stebbing hoped the Tetractys would catch on and become Britain’s answer to the Japanese Haiku. Of this form, he said, “Its challenge is to express a complete thought, profound or comic, witty or wise, within the narrow compass of twenty syllables.”
So in summary, the Double Tetractys is
A decastitch (10-line stanza) with an emphasis on the syllabic count of each line.Syllabic count: 1-2-3-4-10-10-4-3-2-1It should express a complete thought and maybe on any theme and express any mood. Rhyme is optional.
It’s Your Turn!
Now it’s time for you to write a Double Tetractys. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Choose a topic. It can be anything. If you’re struggling for an idea, you might consider the Daily Prompts from The Daily PostDON’T worry about rhyme, as it’s not necessary here.DO keep a handle on the syllable count for each line. Try to avoid filler words. Instead, use a thesaurus to find precise words that give you the right syllable count for each line. Don’t be afraid to break a word if need be, but avoid it if possible. Or perhaps you may want to go crazy with word breaks, to enhance a humorous mood. And of course, when you are finished, share your poem with the rest of us.
Don’t know how? Follow these simple steps…
Write your blog post. Include the tag Decastich Challenge or 10LPCInclude a pingback/link to this post in your post so I can find you. Publish your post.
Beautifully done, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you Nandita..
LikeLike
Very creative though I think I’ll leave the intricate poetry to you my friend. Lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Miriam…thanks for stopping by .i’ll visit soon..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent Double Tetractys! I particularly like the alliteration at the beginning. I love the painting too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you..the painting is courtesy of my 3rd daughter..she’s an artist..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I could do that. That was impressive. And thank you for the that info.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should try…its fun…😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very informative post! And the piece was awesome, too! Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so.much…happy you like it..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! You’re welcome! ☺️😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh, fascinating Mich. I might have one day, have a go at this dinosaur(T-Rex) of yours. But I think it’s beyond this oldish, almost illiterate poet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Ivor..that warms my heart…go ahead and try…its fun.
LikeLike
📚📃🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
love this, would like to try it but no time now as I’m off to visit mum so doubtful internet connection .. next time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Send my love to your mom Kate…😊😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
will do 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
this was brilliant Mich! I love the explanation of the form and how you composed it, it’s so pure and elegant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Gina…i am glad you like it..😊😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
How amazing. I’ve never heard of this! Oh hell, I didn’t even know that 1,2,3,4 added up to 10. How pitiful is that?
It’s so interesting. Now, so far as writing a Tetractys–that’ll take awhile! :-). But yours is brilliant. it flows so well.
Great work Michnavs, 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much ..glad you like it..you should try…its fun..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your poetry style with this is wonderfully done Mich.. Sending hugs your way and blessings my friend.. Loved your post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sue…Bless you too..😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Double Tetractys..informative.. thank you so much
LikeLike
Thank you so much..this was in my spa. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
*spam
LikeLike
You mean spam?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah spam..😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh..okay.. seems spams started to love me again..😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
I DON’T KNOW—I’M FEARFULLY CLINGING TO MY LIMERICK-STYLE—BUT, I’LL GIVE IT A TRY! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you..go ahead and try..its fun
LikeLiked by 2 people
YUP…WILL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
THIS MIGHT TAKE A WHILE—BE PATIENT!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Take your time..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grabeh ang galingggg naman. HUHU ito di ko kaya to. 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha.
Pagsabayin natin ang pamumundok and pagpasuot sa mga kweba the magsulat ng tula in between..
LikeLiked by 1 person
WAHAHAHAHAHHA! Gusto ko yaaaaan 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
POETIC EXPERIMENT
Leave a reply
That
pesky
pussy cat
just purrs all day
Her shiny fur she licks until it’s clean
A tiny fly distracts her eye–and jumps
Down to catch it
But she lands
Into
Mud!
–
A “Tetractys”—my first. “)
–Jonathan Caswell
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great…bravo…👍👍👍…will post this in your site?
LikeLike
YUP! HAVE. POST IT ON YOURS TOO?
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, beautifully done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Chuck.
LikeLike
Beautiful poem! I actually uploaded a (single) tetractys onto my blog a few days ago. I’ll link it below: poeticaparadisum.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/floating-clouds-tetractys/
LikeLike
I shall try one Mich
Thanks 💞
Shiva
LikeLike
Just wanted to stop by and say hello
Today my pen is full of tears
She don’t want to write…
She just wants to see the words come out someone else mouth
This pen is the owner of a lonely heart
LikeLike