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For Wea’ve Written Weekly Prompt #54– An Elfchen Strand

For W3 this week, where Sadje is the POW

Sadje’s prompt guidelines

  • Write an ‘elfchen’ poem;
  • Extra challenge: write a second elfchen poem,
    which opposes the first one.

An ‘Elfchen’ poem: An elevenie (German: elfchen) is a short
poem with a given pattern. It contains eleven words which are arranged in a specified
order over five rows. Each row has a requirement that can vary.

The typical structure of an elfchen is:

ROW NUMBERWORDS IN ROWROW CONTENT
11A thought, an object, a color, smell, or the like
22What does the word from the first row do?
33Where or how is the word of row 1?
44What do you mean?
51Conclusion: What is the outcome?
Table as seen at The Skeptic’s Kaddish

Here’s my offering:

I

babies
tiny creatures
teach you tenderness
always excite a smile
special

II

newborns
helpless humans
of diminutive size
grow your heart tenfold
cuteness

III

offspring
placid rivulet
follow the sun
flow into society’s ocean
generation

IV

elevenie
short poems
five endearing lines
wealth of winsome possibilities
creativity

© selma


Thanks for the fun prompt, Sadje, and thanks for reading, everyone. Scattering blessings on your week.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 46 Comments

  1. Aaysid

    Ingenious and lovely at the same time!🌸😊

    1. Selma Martin

      You’re so sweet for saying that, dear Aaysid. Blessing you. xoxo

      1. Aaysid

        It is always a pleasure, Selma.😊💖

    1. Selma Martin

      It’s my first time encountering the form. I liked it. Thanks, for visiting and commenting. xoxo

  2. Sadje

    Thanks a lot Selma for giving us so many lovely Elfchens. All carry a beautiful message.

    1. Selma Martin

      I’m so pleased you enjoyed them, dear Sadje. xoxo

    1. Selma Martin

      Another new form. So we have another lovely form at our disposal. How rich we are. xoxo Thanks, dear Yve.

    1. Selma Martin

      I’m happy to know you enjoyed this, dearest K. xoxo

    1. Selma Martin

      From the recesses of my heart to yours, dear one. I bless you. xoxo

  3. rajkkhoja

    So sweet & cool poem.

  4. ben Alexander

    Hooray for babies! <3

    And also – I love the line

    winsome possibilities

    ~David

    1. Selma Martin

      Aren’t babies the greatest human equalizers? Golly, I answer yes. Thanks, David. xo

        1. Selma Martin

          David. You’re the sweetest for taking the time to let me know. I already love W3 challenge and your audience and then your individual nudge and I melt. I’ll be there. 😉 💕

  5. Ruth E Klein

    Fun!

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, dear Ruth. Hope all is well. I am thinking of you…

  6. Aboli Mane

    Aww, they’re adorable. The poems and the one’s addressed 🥰

      1. paeansunplugged

        What a lovely sequence of elfchens! And who does not adore babies! Selma, you rock! 💖💖

    1. Selma Martin

      It is a happy day when something like that happens. So happy you got it, dear friend. Sending blessings.

  7. Bridgette

    Really love all this, but my favorite line is “flow into society’s ocean.” Beautiful!

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks. That line came out with a winning smile 😀 —so glad you liked it too. Blessings.

  8. wordsandcoffee1

    Lovely! I think the third poem has my favorite lines, and the fourth one is brilliant! 🙂

  9. A lovely sequence celebrating generations. The final one celebrates this form- and a fine fun form it has been. You’ve used it well.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thank you, D.Avery, dearest. Glad for your presence. Blessing.

  10. lesleyscoble

    Not one elfchen poem. Not two elfchens, or three — but four! 💗💗💗💗

  11. Ellie Thompson

    I love the way Elfchens are constructed and especially yours, in this case, Selma. I tried writing some as a challenge from a fellow blogger a while back, but I didn’t do half as good a job as you’ve done with yours here. My favourite one of yours is –

    “newborns
    helpless humans
    of diminutive size
    grow your heart tenfold
    cuteness”

    It’s charming, my friend. I love all of them. Xx 💐💕

    1. Selma Martin

      Hey, Ellie. So pleased to know. It was my first strand and I enjoyed the form. Thanks. Blessings

  12. Cindy Georgakas

    These are wonderful and so well done Selma. Good thing I’m only having 2 grand babies and not 11.. lol 🥰

    1. Selma Martin

      Grandbabies. Delicious when that happens. Sniff them for me…

    1. Selma Martin

      Rivulets 👏. Thanks for saying, Melissa. Blessings.

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