My 1st quadruple etheree
From the day he pulled him- self up by the bars of his crib, he could never be held down. Scampering up tree trunks, scal- ing walls... His mother lived in con- stant terror, quaking whenever the phone rang. Then, one fateful day, he set his sights upon the peak of great Mount Visok. After months of intensive training, the young man decided that he was ready and departed in the morning with his team. Carefully chalk- ing their hands, me- ter by me- ter, they pushed them- selves up chimneys, grabbed ahold of the thinnest crimps, straining, pulled their torsos up, o- ver treacherous overhangs, smeared up featureless surfaces, belaying one another up the perilous slopes. Then, just before they reached the summit, he lost his foothold, skidding down the mountainside towards the ground. Luckily, his belay device held, stopping his fall. Not miss- ing a single beat, he chalked his fingers and grinned. Better that his mother not find out.
Etheree
The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Get creative and write an Etheree with more than one verse, but follow suit with an inverted syllable count.
Reversed Etheree: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Double Etheree: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
…Triple Etheree, Quadruple Etheree, and so on!
Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
A mother should never know such things. There will be mayhem and endless chatter after that. I know my mom and myself too. ๐
๐ Terveen ๐
Awesome creation, David. โค๏ธ
Reminds me of a recent documentary I watched. However, in that one the climber climbs without rope. Scary. ๐
๐จ Jeff ๐จ
The mother’s heart always knows. The connection prevents secrets. She knew as she felt the fall and the abrupt arrest. She knows…. Only the child is deceived. Nicely executed poem!
๐ Muri ๐
Always better. (K)
Definitely ๐
From
the day
he pulled him-
self up by the
bars of his crib, he
could never be held down – hence begins the struggle.
๐ค Andrew ๐ค
Nicely done! And I like the graphical representation that resembles snow-capped mountain peaks to go along with the climbing theme. ๐
๐๐ Mike ๐๐