‘Oseh shalom’, a New Poetic Form

Senseless, or: Relentless

My 1^st ‘Oseh Shalom’

Ukrainian children flee;
nuclear power plant set ablaze;
senseless, relentless war;
please - just stop;
let live - Amen.

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The new ‘Oseh Shalom’ poetic form

I have created a new syllabic form of poetry, based upon the Jewish prayer for peace ‘Oseh Shalom’, which is sung as a popular children’s song:

‘Oseh Shalom’ poem requirements:

• a pentastitch (a poem in 5 lines);
• syllabic: 7/9/6/3/4;
  • the final two syllables must be the word: ‘Amen’
• thematic: written about peace.

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#TankaTuesday

The above ‘Oseh Shalom’ form was created for Colleen M. Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompt: Poets were encouraged to create their own syllabic poetry forms.

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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!