Explore the Way of 10

The way of 10 takes its name from the sum of its syllables—two in the first line, three in the second, five in the third.

When the first 10 matured over two decades ago, it declared its structure a strict poetic equation and replicable practice: a form. In the world of intellectual property it is accurate to call me the inventor of 10. The form’s opinion about who creates whom is expressed in its poem of origin. Another truthful way to describe our relationship is to call it an invitation for you to experiment with what happens when you write–and speak–poetry in the way of 10.

The poem below, being the very first 10, is the mother of all others.

sitting
on poems
the mountain writes me
~rachel bagby

busy,
bees hover,
keeping us alive
~oriana green

cat’s eye
to cat’s eye
we mouse through the fog
~rachel bagby

ms. rose
grows her name
bushes on fences
~rachel bagby

Here is an example of a linked 10:

evening
colors yawn
night’s eyes open wide

morning?
morning shadows

night?
night stars
~rachel bagby

trees, please
forgive us
we know yet still do
~rachel bagby

roaring
redwoods dance
let down their branches
~rachel bagby

Learn how to contribute your own poems here.

4 Responses to “Explore the Way of 10”

1. Andrea Kalli says:

   November 5, 2009 at 7:18 pm

   I love your video! Your voice is very calming.

   Reply
2. Ann Catherine says:

   November 9, 2009 at 7:24 pm

   10s are fun, exciting to write – a great way to express yourself.

   Reply
3. Chinwe says:

   November 25, 2009 at 7:24 pm

   Rachel, thanks for this posting this video, it created a space of ease for me to create my first 10.

   Reply
4. Martin says:

   December 5, 2009 at 7:18 pm

   This video is great! It teaches me to write 10s which means I’m writing poetry!

   Reply