Write an Octogram Poem
Poetry Contest
The topic for this poetry contest is: Write an Octogram Poem on any topic you like.
The Octogram form of poetry was invented by Fanstory member S .Yocom (Sally). It is a challenging form of poetry that can be written effectively on many topics.
The following rules MUST be followed for your entry to qualify for this contest.
- 2 stanzas of 8 lines each for a total length of 16 lines.
- The syllable counts line by line are; 8-4-8-4-8-8-8-4, 8-4-8-4-8-8-8-4.
- Each line must be written in Iambic Meter.
- The rhyme scheme for the first stanza is; a B a b c c b B
The rhyme scheme for the second stanza is; a b a b d d b B
(Capital ?B? letters denote lines that must repeated EXACTLY THE SAME.
Line two of the first stanza is repeated as line eight in that stanza,
and as line eight of the second stanza.
- No other lines should be repeated
The example poem I've shown below is from my Octogram book but you can also find great examples in Sally Yocom's portfolio. I would also recommend looking through Brooke's (adewpearl) book of octograms in her portfolio.
Since I Lost You by Warren Rodgers
The sadness tears my heart apart,
since I lost you.
You had no choice but to depart ,
what could I do?
My path of life flows out to sea
on cresting waves of misery
without a sail or loyal crew,
since I lost you.
I never wished to play your part,
nor wear your shoes.
Like rolling rapids through my heart,
I?m drenched in blue .
My color since the day you died,
awash in all the tears I cried,
adrift to seek a life anew,
since I lost you.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool of 90.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 2 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Thursday, October 22, 2015.
Full Contest Listing
The Octogram form of poetry was invented by Fanstory member S .Yocom (Sally). It is a challenging form of poetry that can be written effectively on many topics.
The following rules MUST be followed for your entry to qualify for this contest.
- 2 stanzas of 8 lines each for a total length of 16 lines.
- The syllable counts line by line are; 8-4-8-4-8-8-8-4, 8-4-8-4-8-8-8-4.
- Each line must be written in Iambic Meter.
- The rhyme scheme for the first stanza is; a B a b c c b B
The rhyme scheme for the second stanza is; a b a b d d b B
(Capital ?B? letters denote lines that must repeated EXACTLY THE SAME.
Line two of the first stanza is repeated as line eight in that stanza,
and as line eight of the second stanza.
- No other lines should be repeated
The example poem I've shown below is from my Octogram book but you can also find great examples in Sally Yocom's portfolio. I would also recommend looking through Brooke's (adewpearl) book of octograms in her portfolio.
Since I Lost You by Warren Rodgers
The sadness tears my heart apart,
since I lost you.
You had no choice but to depart ,
what could I do?
My path of life flows out to sea
on cresting waves of misery
without a sail or loyal crew,
since I lost you.
I never wished to play your part,
nor wear your shoes.
Like rolling rapids through my heart,
I?m drenched in blue .
My color since the day you died,
awash in all the tears I cried,
adrift to seek a life anew,
since I lost you.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool of 90.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 2 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Thursday, October 22, 2015.
