Hello, all! I wanted to introduce another poetry form to you today. 🙂
The Rictameter is a nine-line poetry form with no rhyming required, though the poet is certainly welcome to try.
The main thing with the Rictameter is the syllable count. That would be:
two, four, six, eight, ten, eight, six, four, two
Below I have written a Rictameter poem as an example.
(Based on Psalm One Twenty One)
I will
Lift up my eyes
To the far away hills
From which I know my help will come.
My help comes from the LORD, Who made all things.
He never sleeps, but rather, He
Is my guide and my strength;
Who I can’t be
Without.
© Stacey Uffelman 10-22-15
Of course, as with a lot of poems, the Rictameter can be used as one of many stanzas in a longer poem (at least, in my opinion). I think that this form lends itself well to the “crown” style (as with Cinquain, Cinqku, etc).
Oh, Lord
Thank You for all
Of the blessings that You
Have so kindly and graciously
Seen fit to give to those of us down here
As we try our best to follow
The example that You
Left us on how
To live.
*
To live
Truly, is You,
Jesus Christ, gracious Lord
And to die, while still knowing You
Will be far more wondrous than earthly gain–
For while earthly treasure can rust,
Rot, and can fade away;
What You give lasts
Always.
*
Lord, please
Help me to do
Whatever things I can
To point those in this dying world
Toward You; the Way, the Truth, and the Life
So that they can know Your kindness
And that true treasure lies
In following
You, Lord.
© Stacey Uffelman 10-22-15
This is probably another form altogether, but the poet could even write a “mini” Rictameter, only going to the ten syllable line.
There is
No one that I
Should ever, ever fear
When I have You on my side, Lord;
Forgive me for the times I forget that.
© Stacey Uffelman 10-22-15
In any case, there it is–the Rictameter. 🙂 This is another form of poetry that I hope you are able to have lots of fun with. 😉