The Miles Like an Anthem
Wheels turn and words flow,
each trip the same, though different.
Poems form with each highway stripe,
each passing tree, and cloud overhead.
Each trip the same, though different,
the miles like an anthem flowing
through the words running through my mind.
Poems form with each highway stripe,
each line a word leading to new thoughts,
new lines as a poem is born.
Each passing tree, and cloud overhead,
plays a part, has a role, as the wheels
turn and the words flow.
This poem is my response to Poetry Form: Trimeric, the prompt from Grace at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, which is to write a trimeric, a form created by Charles A. Stone, as outlined below.
1. Trimeric has 4 stanzas
2. The first stanza has 4 lines
3. The other three stanzas have 3 lines
. The first line of each stanza is a refrain of the corresponding line in the first stanza (so 2nd stanza starts with the second line, third stanza starts with the third line, etc.).
5. The sequence of lines, then, is abcd, b – -, c – -, d – -.
Note: No other rules on line length, meter, or rhyme.
rivrvlogr 
Ken, you are the master of form! I’m always so impressed with your willingness to experiment (and I like the repetition and its effects here)!
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Thank you, Lynne. 🙂 Trying new forms is my way of edging out of my comfort zone.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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🙂 Thank you for sharing.
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I really like this, Ken. I liked this part especially, “Poems form with each highway stripe,
each passing tree, and cloud overhead.” I also get ideas while driving in familiar territory, not always poem ideas but fiction ideas, etc. I really got the feeling of travel and how a familiar drive can be different each time.
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Thank you.
Anything outside the window could lead to an idea. Many of my trips have been solo, so I’ll talk into my phone to record ideas for later.
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This has a nice sense of motion with its rhythm that complements the poem’s theme.
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Thank you. It’s my first time trying the form, so I guess I headed in the right direction. 😉
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I like how each stanza is connected to each other, and flows on as wheels turning and words flowing.
Well done with the form.
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Thank you. 🙂
And thanks for the prompt.
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Such lovely rhythm and flow!
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🙂 Thank you, Lucy.
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Interesting form – and I like what you did with it – rhythmic and a bit repetitive … just like driving!
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Thank, Jazz. It’s the first time I’ve used the form. I almost passed on the prompt.
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A nature poet has unlimited poems inspired by nature, and you capture that feeling well here. Your poem reminds me in spirit of the Byrds song which I think is based on a Bible verse. Turn Turn Turn I think is the title. “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” For the poet it is when they walk (or drive) about…
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🙂 Thank you. That’s high praise. In spit of the times when I can’t come up with a thing, there are times when the sights around me pull the words from me. Even so, if later on I want to write the poem in my head without looking at what I’ve written, it just doesn’t work. The poem has its moment, and any further thought is something completely different.
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You’re welcome, Ken, and I appreciate you saying more on your process.
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Sounds like the wheels of the mind are turning with the wheels of the vehicle. Everything in motion for a greater purpose.
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I often get that feeling — wheels turning, inside & out. Thank you.
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Oh, yeah, you nailed this form, Ken. Your 3rd stanza (especially) is stand-alone perfect. Congrats.
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Thanks, Ron. This one just wrote itself.
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I totally agree with these lines
Each passing tree, and cloud overhead,
plays a part, has a role, as the wheels
turn and the words flow.
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Thank you. Nature can such an inspiration.
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this flowed so well like a car on a highway. and i agree. we are inspired by mostly all and everything.
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Yes. 🙂 Thank you.
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I love the rhythm of this.
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Thank you.
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Daily walks birth poems for me, your trimeric resonates! A lovely write, Ken.
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😀 Thank you.
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A long road trip can certainly give the mind a work-out. Do you pull over and jot your thoughts down? The rhythm of this form works well with the idea of moving (both mind and vehicle) (K)
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My phone is on a holder on the face of the dashboard. I’ll keep it open to a note app, and my keyboard has speech recognition. A simple touch of the screen is a minor enough distraction – probably no more than glancing at GPS would be – that I feel comfortable with it while driving. Also, I make sure I’m on the road and not in traffic at the time.
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That’s a good idea. Technology can be useful as well as irritating.
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My goodness this is good! Especially admire; “Poems form with each highway stripe, each line a word leading to new thoughts.”💝💝
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Thank you. 😀
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Ken,
The meter in the poem mimics the movement of the wheels, a rolling flow of imagery that captures the natural formation of thoughts and words into stanzas. Beautifully penned.
pax,
dora
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Thank you, Dora. 🙂
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I can really feel the movement of the wheels. and how it fits long travels along the same familiar roads…
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Thank you, Björn. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but the fact that it’s often the familiar route taken to visit my family probably plays a big part in it.
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I can identify with this Ken, as I’ve been on so many road trips. I think being a passenger lends itself to poetry for me, but I’m not a good enough driver to be able to compose whilst driving!
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Thank you, Ingrid. I can’t say that I ever did this (even in my head) as a truck driver, but I would sit in my cab during breaks and take notes about what I’d seen or encounters with customers.
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An excellent use of the prompt! Your pace was well matched to the theme.
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Thank you. 🙂
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