Yesterday I commented to my husband that one of the poetry forms that brings me the most joy would have to be the tetractys. It’s just the right balance of challenge and choice. Form and freedom. Rhyme – or not. I often rue the fact that I don’t write enough just-for-fun-poetry these days, and I miss it. (!) The tetractys that prompted my comments wasn’t just for fun… but it was fun to write. And that’s when I realised that I was smiling – and breathing a little easier. And it’s always that way when I play with the tetractys. Those interlocking patterns unlock my jumble of things-to-do.
So – just for the joy of it, here is a tetractys that I did write just for fun, and just for friends. YOU!
stressed? inhale poetry; you can count on fingers, toes and friends to keep you upbeat.💕 © Kathryn Apel 2021 - All rights reserved.
It’s appropriate that Elizabeth is hosting us at Unexpected Intersections this week. You’ll find more poetry goodness there – shared amongst friends.
Join us on 14th September, when Australia Reads. You can go anywhere, with a book! Books take you places. Where will you be when Australia Reads?
Kathryn Apel 
You keep me on my toes and help my fingers tap, tap, tap a new-to-me poetry form.
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Lovely! Enjoy, Margaret. (And thanks for putting the tap in my day.)
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Kat, I did not know about this new poetic form. You certainly make it fun to read yours. I just happen to be stressed. I am on week 6 of a sinus issue. Today marks the 4th visit to my internist’s group of doctors. More meds and let’s hope this time the issue will be knocked out completely. So I will inhale poetry along with the nasal spray. That will make me laugh. Reading will certainly set up all children!
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Oh noes. I’m gonna guess you’re feeling pretty miserable. Yes. I prescribe poetry. Plenty of syllables! And if it brings a laugh, that’s even better! Feeling better soon, Carol.💓
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Oh how I love a poetic form! Thanks for introducing me to this one and for being part of the Poetry Friday party today.
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Thank-you for hosting us, Elisabeth. Hoping you have stacks of fun with the tetractys!
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How fun, how true, how good for you! Now I want to go play with words and make some tractys too! See what you started? So glad you could pop in this week for a hello. You sure seem wonderfully busy these days.
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I feel busy, Linda. Very productive, too, of late – which has been lovely! (Sometimes busy doesn’t feel as rewarding.😹) What a joy to read your post and picture you smiling in your library again. And to read this playful comment. Thanks for the smiles, my friend.
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Well, this is fun! I especially like the doubles with their double meanings. We poets do count on fingers toes and friends, don’t we!? Nice ambassador card, too–that’s a big deal, Kat.
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There is so much scope in the tetractys, Heidi – to play and to challenge. Especially in the double. So glad you like.
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Yes, it’s hard to write a fun syllabic form and not breathe easier. It’s true. I love your photo and I always have believed if you are near a library and can read, you can do most anything.
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Oh cool! I’m not the only one who has found this about syllables. Love that you have too, Janice.
Libraries and books are the key to the future!
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Wishing you lots of fun with fingers, toes & poems on Australia reads, Kat! Yes, poetry lets me lose myself in a special place.
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Poetry – and friends through poetry… There is so much to love, Linda!
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Thank you for this bit of re-freshment through a new-to-me poem form! Your uplifting words made my day!
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And your comment made my day! Thank-you.🙃
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Looking forward to tectactrys challenge with my poetry crit group in September! We’ll be using your post as a guide—
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Enjoy! The tetractys is one of those forms where you really weigh your words – but lighten it up with the wordplay.
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I love that picture of you!!! And I love figuring out ways to “unlock our jumble.” 💕
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Awww. Thank-you, Tabatha.💕 A jumble-juggle is fun!
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Love this. I went hunting and found some other old posts and now I am putting the tetracyts on my list in my notebook of a new FUN form to try out. That and villanelles. Maybe I can alternate. I like your Stressed poem…because anything that leads us to poetry is a good thing. And can make life a lot more fun! Thanks, Kat.
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I have played with a villanelle – but I think my brain lumped them in with sonnets. (Tie my brain in knots!😹) Which means, I probably should make some time to extend myself again! (I would for sure need to follow-up with a tetractys!) Have fun with them both, Janet.
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Oh so pretty in pink, astronaut or author or whatever! This is not a form I know, but of course you show us how to have fun with it. Thank you. xo
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You’ve got me blushing – and laughing, Irene.🤗 Thank-you.
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I went immediately from your post to my notebook and played around with tetracyts. Fun! I can see why you enjoy this form! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your way cool ambassadorship!
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That’s fantastic, Molly. So glad I could share the fun with you!🙃
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Always learning something new over here, and leaving with a smile… Thank you, Kat! I’m going to have to play with this…. :0)
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Well I am glad, Robyn. There’s lots to like about that.
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Thanks for your pick-me-up poem Kat, inhaling poetry does wonders for my entire being–and I’m always happy to welcome play! Nice pic, and congrats on being an “Australian Reading Ambassador!”
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Thank-you, Michelle. Hope you get to have some fun with the tetractys.
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This very week as part of Book Week I shared some Tetractys poems with young poets. They are fun to write as you say Kat, and their simple form makes them quite accessible. So I hope you are able to find more opportunities to enjoy your poetry life in this way in the days ahead. I have a number of short forms that I periodically return too. They limber the mind during those notebook sessions. They often lead to discoveries that can be used in other projects.
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You’re spot on, Alan. So often those little poetry exercises create the shift that is needed to achieve productivity in other projects! Or prompt for new projects. 🙂
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Ah, Kat, that is so sweet. I am adding tetractys to my list of poems to try. I took time to “inhale poetry” here and on your tetractys link. What fun! Did you create the original tetractys or adapted to make the homophone/homonym adjustments? Thank you so much for sharing!
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Hi Denise. I didn’t create the tetractys form – but I think I may have started the homophone/nym version, which I love to dip back into time and again. Have fun!
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“Form and freedom” – words to live by! Thanks for the tetractys, Kat. 🙂
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😺
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What a fun form! I’ll definitely be giving it a try this week! Thanks!!
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I’m a big fan of Tetractys poems–thanks so much for sharing yours. I need to write more just-for-fun poetry too!
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