This week I’ve been thinking about shapes in poetry. Not concrete poetry where the poem is written in the shape of its subject or theme (although that would be fun to try), but more a poem inspired by a shape, or one in which a specific shape is used to describe something else. A favorite of mine from Valerie Worth is this one:
sun
by Valerie Worth
The sun
Is a leaping fire
Too hot
To go near,
But it will still
Lie down
In warm yellow squares
On the floor
Like a flat
Quilt, where
The cat can curl
And purr.
I think the unexpected mention of a square, rather than the expected circle, surrounded by the metaphor and simile is what makes this poem so special. I was thinking about these surprises while I watered the garden the other day and noticed a spider web strung among the plants and flowers – an unexpected triangle surrounding the expected circle. Unfortunately, my attempt to capture a picture failed.
In the Garden
A spider spun a triangle
leaf to leaf to leaf,
then circles inside circles
until it was complete.
Woven with the finest silk,
a model of design,
the impressive steamstress lingers
until it’s time to dine.
Draft, 2022Rose Cappelli
May your week be full of surprises and wonder. Janice has the roundup this week at Salt City Verse. Be sure to stop by for more poetry fun.
Imagine the Possibilities 
How wonderful! Love that spider web poem inspired by Valerie Werth. Those triangles, those circles…all in a days work for our seamstress. Beautifully written, Rose.
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You captured how a spider can create circles that make a point! (triangular ones 😉 )
Well done, Rose.
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Ohhh, I really love your spider web poem, Rose! Lovely! Shapes in nature have always fascinated me too. Thank you for sharing!
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Wow! You didn’t need to photograph the web because you did such a good job capturing it in your poem! Love it!
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This is a delightful poem and I had a wonderful image of that spider web. I love hearing the back story of inspiration that led you to these words. Thanks for sharing that, too. (PS That Valerie Worth poem has always been one of my favorites!)
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Rose, I love how you used a mentor text to draft your own poem. A photo would make a fabulous image poem. I am planning 4 keynote video presentations for a Long Island Reading Council 2022-23 PD program. My last session is on poetry. May I share your post to provide an example of how to use mentor text to move from reading to writing? If you add a photo that would be great so I can share a digital component.Thanks.
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Hi Carol- I would be honored for you to share my poem. Like I said, I wasn’t able to get a photo and the image of the web inside the triangle is so specific I’m not sure just any photo of a spider web would do. Sorry. Good luck with your presentations.
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Certainly an impressive seamstress.
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Love the connection from Worth’s sun on squares to your web triangle, Rose. Its sounds are great to read aloud, too!
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Yes I can see the spider web in your poem, the triangle then the concentric circles. I’ve always been amazed how quickly they are created. Overnight there are always new ones glistening between porch railings. Nice work!
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Thanks for sharing both these lovely poems, Rose. Have you read Jane Yolen’s SHAPE ME A RHYME? https://amzn.to/3Ifff2L
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Thanks for the recommendation, Laura. I think I may have missed that one.
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Wonderful spider image whimsey Rose, love your movement from circles to triangles, and disappearing seamstress at the end, thanks!
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