This week for the poetry challenge, I want to share a garland cinquain. This poem is created with a 2/4/6/8/2 syllable count for each of the five stanzas. The last stanza is where it gets interesting. You take line one from the first stanza, line two from the second stanza, etc. until you’ve created the last refrain.
I especially like this form because it combines the brevity of syllabic poetry into a longer verse poem that tells a story.
(The cover image credits are: Roger Kidd, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dryad%27s_Saddle_Fungus_-geograph.org.uk-_552410.jpg).
The Old Gods
old Gods
guard the river
where fast water runs deep
a far northern estuary
rushes
coastland
weathered heartwood
reveals the mystery
of the dryad’s saddle parasite
mushrooms
white-rot
weakens the host
maple, elm, box elder
united wood nymph sentinels
protect
the core
symbiotic
connection to the tree
If one falls, they die together
fungi
fairy
air, earth, water
powers drawn from the trees
ambrosia from the other world
enshrined
old gods
weathered heartwood
maple, elm, box elder,
if one falls, they die together
enshrined
©2020 Colleen M. Chesebro
Years ago when we lived in Great Falls, Montana, Dustin lived next door to us where he served in the Air Force. Now retired and married to the love of his life, Molly, the two returned home to their beloved state of Michigan. Our friendship has endured for many years and we talk often. When Dustin sent me this photo from a spot near his home, I knew I had to write about the dryad’s saddle. These fungi are edible, believe it or not! Click the link to find out more.
Give back to the mother goddess… plant a dryad tree!
Beautifully done, Colleen. You make the form look effortless.
Thanks for the lovely comment, Diana. It took me a couple of days to select the correct words. It turned out so lovely. A tribute to this magical place. ❤️
Some of these forms are harder than they look. That’s part of the fun. <3
I agree. The best part is trying to make the forms fit the words and your thoughts. I’m never bored. LOL! <3
The stanza at the end was perfect – a wonderful offering to the old gods, if I say so myself!*
*not actually certified to do this, haha
LOL! This was so fun. Almost like working a puzzle to get all the pieces to fit. 😂
Thanks again for the inspiration to write my own garland cinquain Colleen. It’s published if you care to read it; titled “Our Muses”.
Yes! Fabulous, I’ll stop by! ❤️
I didn’t know they came in so many stanzas. Looks challenging. I like how yours turned out. That first photo looks like a snake, looks like a mushroom, looks like a snake, lol. I had to go find my glasses, lol!!
Pat
Ha, ha, ha, Pat! That’s great 😂❤️
Well done Colleen. I really like how you put together all the pieces! I’ve done a one stanza cinquain, but never this 5 stanza form.
Thank you. The garland Cinquain is like doing a puzzle. It’s fun when you get it right. ❤️
Yours is wonderful. We’ll see how mine turns out. I’m posting it tomorrow.
Great! I’ll try to stop by. My new challenge posts tomorrow and it’s synonymous only. ❤️
Thanks.
Wonderful poem, Colleen and thank you for the tutorial too. I was apprehensive to try out Garland Cinquain, thanks to you, I might give it a try in near future. It’s amazing that the last stanza makes perfect sense. 🙂
Well, sometimes it doesn’t. LOL! I’m usually writing the six stanzas at the same time to make sure all the lines make sense. Good job! ❤️
Thanks for your insight, Colleen. 🙂
You’re welcome. ❤️
A wonderful poem, Colleen.
Many thanks, Robbie ❤️
Beautiful form and poetry Colleen, love this. 🙂
Thanks, Marje. I’m thrilled I inspired you to write one, as well. <3
It’s nice to try new forms and your poem was so wonderful. Lovely. x
Aww, thank you so much. <3
Absolutely fabulous Colleen, not just the poem itself but as a tutorial.. I need to be more adventurous ♥♥
Yes, please. I need examples for my book. You own the poem, and I cite you in the bibliography. ❤️
I will see what next week brings..hugsx♥
This was fantastic. A perfect form for you with all the natural elements coming full circle <3
Thanks, Sis. What a magical spot! 😍🔮🧚♀️
Just perfect! <3 xxx
The form echoes the circle of the elements. I will have to try this sometime. I like puzzle poems too. (K)
This is one of my favorite Cinquain versions. It’s a real challenge to get the sixth stanza to make sense. I have to write it all at the same time. If you write it, I’ll add it to the poetry book of examples which I’ll be asking for soon. Same offer as before, you hold all rights to your poetry. I cite you as the author. <3
I’ll put it on my challenge list!
Yay! Thank you, Kerfe ❤️
Nicely done, Colleen. I love how all these things came together–the elements, wood, mushrooms, etc.
Thanks, Merril. This took me awhile to get all the stanzas to work together. The Dryad’s Saddle mushroom–how cool is that thing? The stormy sky in the photo background begged me to talk about the old gods. The carvings are spectacular.
I was struck by the carvings as well, particularly how they’re displayed. The refrain, “if one falls, they die together,” resonates in so many directions.
The original owner of the land that Dustin bought this house from said the carvings were there when he first bought. They look old and carved out of the decaying stump. There’s such a synergy in the photo. This was one of my favorite pieces to write. ❤️
I can see that!
Yes, the mushroom–and all the rest are spectacular!
You had a great inspiration to write this poem, Colleen. It was good of your friend sent you the photo. It looks very interesting to find the tree and other things in addition to the fungi in the photo. <3
Thanks, Miriam. It’s a beautiful spot along the river in woods. You can feel the magic from the photo. <3
A lovely and fascinating poem, Colleen! <3 The picture is also very interesting. I enjoyed the post.
Thanks, Vashti. Those carved heads are so cool. No one knows how they got there. The original owner said we bought the land on the river, the heads were already in place. I feel like there’s a story there for sure. <3
I think there’s a story there too, Sis. <3
Fascinatingly beautiful!
Thanks, Sis. This is a lovely spot. <3
Beautiful, Colleen. I will be thinking about your words on my walk through the trees later.
What a compliment! Thank you, Denise. <3
You have taught me something new Colleen.. I didn’t know this fungi was edible.. You have to certainly know your fungi… My Dad and I would often go mushrooming… And he taught me a lot about what mushrooms to pick and avoid.. I would never have touched Tree fungi.. 🙂 lol..
Loved the image… and wonderful your friendship has long lasted Colleen…. Your poem I loved.. The myecelium that connects ALL trees is fascinating… when you learn how that web beneath the earth communicates..
Sending Love my friend… <3 Enjoy your Friday and weekend to come.. <3 <3 <3
Thank you so much, Sue. I had no idea the fungi was edible. Dustin said they’ve added it to soups and stews. What a magical spot! There’s powerful magic here. Hugs and love to you, Sue. <3
You can see the magic in the place on the photo.. 🙂
Dustin said he can feel it. I believe the original owner carved the old gods. They are breathtaking.
You know how when you buy something made of wood… How you cannot resist to touch it, stroke it and feel its energy… Wood Energy I feel lasts and imprints into the objects… Trees as you know are my favourite Elders of Time… 🙂 You may like when you have more time to read a story I wrote some years ago that went with a painting I did… I revealed parts of the painting in the different parts… The first part is here..
https://suedreamwalker.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/the-elder-the-pathfinder-part-1/
Thanks, Sue. I’ll enjoy that for sure. Now, I had to go to the comments section to leave a comment back to you. Craziness!
Yes… Crazy..
Gorgeous Colleen!
Thanks, Linda. It took a bit to get the last stanza to make sense. LOL! <3
Yes, it’s actually a tricky form.
This took several hours to write. I love the challenge of making it all work. <3