[Cinquain is a form invented by American poet Adelaide Crapsey which for the most part is in iambic meter. It typically consists of 5 lines of non rhyming verse with respectively 2,4,6,8,2 syllables. Below is repeating Cinquain, not necessarily in meter. I enjoy fitting words into a constricted form. I also like the physical look of the verses, as if the upper lines are being supported by the 8 syllable line.]
In the cartoon below [ © Robert Balazik | Dreamstime.com ] , the groundhog sees his shadow and gets ready for 6 more weeks of winter. I purchased this cartoon from "dreamstime.com" for use in this blog.
February Nightmare
Heaps of
crystalline flakes
blanket memories of
Spring and muffle sounds of local
traffic.
"Minus
seventeen and
falling, with no letup
in sight. Stay home!" the announcer
utters.
I'd thought
hibernation
was a reasonable
alternative and envied the
groundhog,
for he
was both confined
and insensible. I
am only confined, thoughts flourish
unchecked!
In my
theater of
chosen aloneness they
attack from all sides intent on
a kill.
I fight
angrily with
cold saber. I sever
heads, hands and stab fleshless hearts. Still
I lose.
Beaten
into humble
submission, I long for
uninterrupted sleep, but dreams
ravage.
They ooze
from subconscious
hiding to video
screen in vivid color before
my mind.
Awake!
Terrified by
hideous ogres that
presented themselves a second
ago...
Darkness
breeds distress. A
higher setting on my
electric blanket does not bring
comfort.
Music
tapes fail to soothe
my weary spirit. I
am doomed to a winterized hell
alone!
The phone:
"Save on service
charges. Order all your
phones at once. Northwestern Bell time-
three-ten,
with a
temperature
of twenty-five below."
Windows made translucent by frost...
Silence
____________
