ephemeral

[cjchaffin]

the

shore beck- 

ons

waves to

hurl their shells

empty.

they

leave im-

permanent

prints before be-

ing wiped by

the pull

and

the push

of rising

waters

that

wash a-

shore

this is a wave waltz, yes?


A modern form written in a single stanza of nineteen lines. The lines are extremely short with a specific syllable count which is: 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1. The form is so loose it not only allows enjambment, but actual splitting of words to fit the form.


just for clarification...  

i'm not sure if the split words here work. it almost makes the read too choppy, and i wonder if the poem would benefit from standard strophes. for example:

the shore beckons

waves to hurl 

their shells

empty.

they leave 

impermanent prints 

before being wiped 

by the pull

and the push

of rising

waters

or something to that effect. what do you think? i like the content, i just don't know if the form works here.