October

It’s my favorite month.

The leaves turn colors and are swept from the trees by the winds that promise cooler days are coming.

Sweatshirts and shorts are appropriate attire and sandals can still grace the feet that have stopped tromping in the garden’s greens and reds and yellows.

It’s my birthday month. Technically, that makes October the month that I whisper to myself, “Happy New Year!” and I try not to think of all the things I didn’t get done since last October.

But the beauty of a new year is that it’s never too late – or too early – to set goals. I believe I have lived longer now than I have left to go and I haven’t a moment to waste in whatever time the good Lord gives me.

This October, I want to write a poem a day. And I want you to join me.

The form is quite easy. It’s called a cinquain (sin-cane’). Here is an example:

Cinquain

Five lines
and twenty-two
syllables in total.
Two, four, six, eight, two -- the count for
each line. 

The cinquain was created in the early 1900s by American Poet Adelaide Crapsey. She was heavily influenced by the Japanese Haiku and the Tanka forms. Diagnosed with tuberculosis of the brain lining in 1911, Crapsey died at age 36. For more information on her life and work, visit this link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/adelaide-crapsey. I suggest you read her cinquain called Amaze. It’s quite lovely.

My life has been a little crazy of late, but for October, I can manage five lines of twenty-two syllables each day. Lord willing.

And maybe you can, too.

It’s easy. Here’s how to write a cinquain:

Look at the poem above, the one I wrote today and entitled Cinquain.

Five lines = two syllables.

and twenty-two = four syllables.

syllables in total = six syllables.

Two, four, six, eight, two — the count for = eight syllables.

each line. = two syllables.

Why a poem a day in October?

Well, it’s short. Relatively simply for me to think of and capture on paper, recycled envelopes, receipts, sticky notes, that napkin from Gold Star Chili tonight.

Mostly, I want to celebrate my New Year Birthday Month being reminded every single day of my calling.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

That word “workmanship” in the Greek is poema. it’s where we get the English word poem.

I am God’s walking poetry, and He has a job for me.

Maybe He has a job for you, too? If that’s poetry, specifically a cinquain, then post it below. I’d love to walk through this season of words with you.