The Acrossteree!

What's that? You've never heard of it?? I created it months ago to challenge a class I was teaching...and got some amazing results.

The acrossteree is a combination of the loveable etheree (10 lines of verse, 1st line consisting of one syllable and increasing by one with each line, up to ten and then back down again, decreasing each line by one syllable, down to one) and the acrostic.

The acrostic, using the first letters of each line read down to form a message, will relate to the topic of the poem.

For all who dare to venture into this exercize....good luck! Have fun with it!

RE: The Acrossteree!

Mr B. you know that Aria will be the only one that will be able to do this challenge justice.
Let me get this straight....would it be something like this ?

I
Saw three
men at work
drinking cold beer
and laughing out loud
at a stupid joke
I thought it strange
that they smirked
at me
sad.... (and, of course, reading down the letters on the left, would say something)

RE: The Acrossteree!

No, perhaps I didn't explain it well. It's 10 lines of adding a syllable to each line and then 10 lines subtracting a syllable from each line, which makes 20 lines. I can see that you only went to 5 before going back down so I assume you took my meaning to mean a total of 10 lines. I should have been clearer. Yes, that is how it will be, along with the acrostic.

RE: RE: The Acrossteree!

Wow....twenty lines, and the acrostic too. I do want to give it a shot, though...
I'll be back...

RE: The Acrossteree!

Well, here goes, Mr. B................................

Laughing is so easy to do

Last
Autumn
Under trees
Garnished in gold
Held I, your beauty
In my loving embrace
Now craving the love you held
Grew the passion within my breast
Inside the veins of this humbled beast
So enamored was my enchanted heart
Sighing was not needed for one as I
Or strength enough to turn from maiden
Enchantment made me giggle slight
As lips met in harmony
Solid were the fluids
Yearning for relief
Tickling my nose
Oft the laughs
Dribbled
Out

RE: The Acrossteree!

You sneaky little fellow! You almost had me feeling sorry for you and here you come and ace the assignment!

Very nice work, friend. The acrostic is exact, as well as the syllable counts, and the poem is in direct relation to the message given.

A loud WELL DONE!! from sunny Florida!

RE: The Acrossteree!

Thank you Mr. B. for the uplifting review.....

RE: The Acrossteree!

I
Very
Early on
Got into you.
Oh, how I thought of
Things that we could do and
Yet somehow, I'm a little
Overweight now. We both can't stay
Under my skin, it's way too small for
Us both and I'm feeling rather lumpy,
Not made of spandex, I can barely breathe.
Darling, get back into your own skin.
Enough's enough, we're way too close.
Really, dear, I like your skin
Much better when you wear
Your own. Won't you please
Slip out of mine
Kind of quick?
I mean
NOW!

Last edited by Aria 07-24-2010 at 12:10:18 AM

RE: The Acrossteree!

Wow! That's quite an interesting piece! I know that "got you under my skin" is a nice, romantic metaphor, but you have taken it to a new level! Almost makes my skin crawl!! LOL!

You get an A for construction and an A+ for imagery and imagination. Very nice work indeed, miss. (I'm hoping this wasn't written to a chigger!)

RE: The Acrossteree!

No chiggers, just a weird sense of humor sometimes! Thanks for posting such an interesting assignment!

RE: The Acrossteree!

ok Balladeer, gogant and Aria here I go!


Living In The Boondocks

Look
I see
Violet
Insects fly by
Noticing their wings
Gracefully fluttering
Indulgent procreation
Naked abdomen fluctuates
Their niche soon pending newborn offspring
Huddled larvae stuck together, viscous
Eels
Bide time,
On cue suck
Oozing plasma
Nature's nourishment
Dealt to predatory
Onslaught, balancing nature
Collectively counting insects
Keeping harmony throughout kingdom
Subsistence exists where boondocks persist.


ginga

Last edited by ginga 07-24-2010 at 02:51:07 AM

RE: The Acrossteree!

Superb, ginga! Great topic and your descriptions are right on for anyone who has ever lived in that setting. Your vocabulary is excellent and innovative.

indulgent procreation
naked abdomen fluctuates

...a far cry from "See Spot run!". This would be an excellent piece of writing in any form.

(I will overlook the fact that you deviated from the rules by not going from 1 to 10 and then back down again) Fine by me. I love it the way it is. Very fine work here!

RE: RE: The Acrossteree!

RE: The Acrossteree!

Yeah Londo, I think Ari is getting the 7-year itch......and possibly you too.
Hey Linda, I love all those beautiful adjectives, verbs, and such.......Maybe
Mr. B. could call your version an Acrossteree-hic-cup...

RE: The Acrossteree!

ahh shucks Balladeer I did screw this up. That's what I get for posting this at 2:15 am or whatever late hour I was writing. I can try again sometime soon and get the format right. ty for all your nice compliments..until later bye bye from the boondocks!
ginga:

RE: RE: The Acrossteree!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gogant

Yeah Londo, I think Ari is getting the 7-year itch......and possibly you too.


Well, the wife and I have been married for 21 years, so I guess I've gotten the 7-year itch about 3 times. D'oh!




Hey Linda, I love all those beautiful adjectives, verbs, and such.......Maybe
Mr. B. could call your version an Acrossteree-hic-cup...

RE: The Acrossteree!

I need you in my life, dear


I

Need you
Evermore
Every moment
Darling, you’re the one

Yesterday is long past
Only you and I, at last
Unconditionally, I’m yours

In every thing you do, you are mine
Now and forever, we shall be as one

My life is yours to do with, as you will
You and only you control the reins

Life without you has no value
In love with you I’ll remain
From this day, forever
Eternally yours

Don’t ever doubt
Evermore
Always
Right?

Last edited by BVenture 07-26-2010 at 04:43:45 PM

RE: The Acrossteree!

Absolutely, BVenture! Excellent romantic poem following the guidelines perfectly. Thanks for your participation....very well done.

RE: The Acrossteree!

Anger Lives in the Foods
___________________



A
newling
grown apart
errant beat heart
reaching with a dart

living in a bubble
inside centers cause trouble
versions sweet that did turn sour
enzymes struggle, static-like power
searching for connections, in death's hour

inside cells, where synapses mis-fire
no life comes from vacant spark pyre

there is no food for starving brain
health is the body's main aim
everyone is the same

food that comes from life
ode to no strife
or die for
death's cooked
store

Last edited by Springsize 08-08-2010 at 01:45:17 AM