Sangeetha & David’s new poetry project
Once upon a time, two poets who’d never met in person spontaneously began writing verses back and forth to one another over the Internet. Their first poetry project took them some nine months: a 100 verse Hyakuin.
Once they’d completed their oeuvre, the two decided to continue their creative journey together; and Sangeetha came up with a fun new idea, which David loved – to explore different poetic forms together, working through the Alphabet from ‘A’ to ‘Z’.
Every week, for twenty-six weeks beginning in January of the year 2022, they would take turns selecting poetic forms beginning with the letter corresponding to that particular week (1=A, 2=B, etc., etc.) and write poems to one another using that form.
David suggested they call their new project ‘Form verses creativity’, and so it began.
E for Etheree
Sangeetha’s Etheree to David
what
inspires
you to make
magic with words
conjuring stories
delightful daisy chains
of life, love, humanity
rhyme and rhythm interlacing
infinite worlds to wander carefree
in the caprice of imagination?
David’s response to Sangeetha
I ask myself how some live silently
in this world of magical stories,
bright imaginations muted ~
maybe survival's demands
weigh much too heavily?
to breathe a struggle?
selves lost to time
spent at work?
wonder ~
lost?
Etheree?
- 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables;
- reversed: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1;
- double: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1;
- triple…
Sangeetha & David’s ‘Form verses creativity’
- The Alouette
- The Balance
- The Candlelight
- The Dizain
- The Etheree
- The Florette
- The Ghazal
- The Hexaduad
- The Italian octave
- The Jue Ju
- The Kimo
- The Limerick
- The Marianne
- The Nocturna
- The Ottava Rima
- The Pathya Vat
- The Quintilla
- The Retrac
- The Sijo
- The Tritina
- The Ukiah
- The Verso-Rhyme
- The Waltz Wave
- X (wildcard): The Lira
- The YaDu
- The Zejel
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!
Being able to write is definitely a blessing. ๐
๐ Terveen ๐ so true!
A wonderful and inspiring collaboration, David and Sangeetha! I enjoyed reading this post! ๐ โค
โค โค Cheryl โค โค
Wow. That’s just. Brilliant. Illuminating.
โค Mat โค ~ thank you so much!
~David
This page is a real treat to read. An etheree feast โค
โค Marion โค ~ thanks so much!
-David
david who are your favourite poets?
Wow, hard question. The two who come to mind first are Dickinson and Poe…
Stunning writes, both. Beautiful poetry, Sangeetha, and David. โค๏ธโค๏ธ
๐งกโค๏ธ Jeff โค๏ธ๐งก
๐งกโค๏ธ
Thank you Jeff โบ๏ธ
This is such beautiufl form of poetry, even more beautiful is your collaboration – matching exactly in thought and emotion.
๐ Pragalbha ๐ ~ thanks!
-David
The two walk hand in hand
Inextricably linked
So the forms feel in their entirely
Speaking to each other
In language that oft transcends the reader’s understanding,
Only poets, support bodies
Tis’ lovely the poetic courtship.
A feast for the reader.
๐ฅฐ Abi ๐ฅฐ
You are swooning David
An acclaimed poetic muse by your side
Well done to the both of you โฅ
I think the silence still holds stories–they just need someone to open the door. (K)
๐ Kerfe ๐
I love the original two poems, as well as your poetic exchange with Tricia, David. Lovely!
Air hugs,
D
โค Dolly โค
Awesome!
โค Lov โค
๐๐๐๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ
โจ๐๐ปโจ Ken โจ๐๐ปโจ
A great collaboration, most enjoyable.
And
whispers
in my ears
remind me of
the magic woven
by the power of two
to work together over
invisible distances and
out of each otherโs sight or sound
to craft a friendship woven out of words.
Xx Tricia
oh
my gosh,
Tricia, that’s
just beautiful.
Would you consider
sharing a poem with
me for Poetry Partners?
It would be my great honor to
respond to a work of yours, should you
choose to give me the opportunity.
Sitting here, in my ivory tower,
surrounded by a foreign language,
not knowing where my words will land
Iโd think it a great honour
to let our words inspire
each other to write
a dialogue
in verse, my
friend.
thank
you for
honoring
me. I’m looking
forward to reading
whatever comes to your
mind, which seems a lush garden.
grafting our verses together
shall produce magnificent flowers
~ it’s all about the heart of the matter.
David and Tricia….This is brilliant ๐