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the way of 10
writing poetry that empowers your tongue
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What is a 10? A 10 is a new short form of poetry, that hones the power of your communications
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Writing 10 Poetry
Whether or not you think of yourself as a poet or even as a writer, experimenting with this new form of poetry might prove to be an exhilarating form of self-expression.
The basic rules of writing a 10 poem are quite simple:
• Each poem has exactly 10 syllables spread over three lines
• Syllables must be arranged like this: 2 on the first line, 3 on the second line and 5 on the third line. The exception is that additional stanzas of linked 10s may be more free form.
• Punctuation does not count as a syllable
• When you are finished writing your 10 you must speak it aloud to another being (which could be your Chihuahua, your cherry tree or your child).
If you’re ready to offer your 10 poem(s) to us for publication on this site, please visit the contributors’ page.
Prompts
Sometimes the blank white page just glares back at you. Or perhaps it’s an empty computer screen that seems to taunt your lack of inspiration. Well we don’t want that to be part of your experience writing 10 poems, so we intend to provide you with new prompts every week to jumpstart your 10 process. In addition, here’s a nice big bouquet of prompts to get you started. You’ll notice that some of them specifically address our connectedness to other beings, while others urge you to examine your life experiences for insights, thus creating more proverbial-style reflections.
• What animal feels like a spiritual ally and how have you interacted?
• What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
• What places feel especially sacred to you and why?
• What new thing did you discover today?
• Do you have a favorite flower? How does it sing to you?
• Does the moon enter your dreams? What does she tell you?
• Do you feel the music in moving water?
• What life wisdom did you absorb from your family?
• What’s your favorite time of day? What is the quality of light?
• How do you respond to the vivid colors of autumn?
• How does your dog or cat make you laugh?
• What have you learned from a child? Can you remember how the world looks to a child?
• Have you enjoyed a meteor shower on a clear winter night? Do you feel connected to that ancient stardust?
• Who always makes you smile? Why?
Rachel Bagby, author of Divine Daughters: Liberating the Power and Passion of Women’s Voices, has read at and curated poetry programs for the Library of Congress and serves on the Advisory Board of Robert Hass’ River of Words project, connecting children to their watershed through poetry. Learn more about Rachel here.