A kerf
"I'd be more useful dead." "At least they'd get the money." "Hell, at least I would finally be free." "Mouths at home would get fed." "So sad, it's almost funny." "My children? Nah, they have no need for me." "Construction doesn't pay." "Ain't no help for a brother." "There's only one way out that I can see." "I'm ne'er home anyway." "They would still have their mother." "And... honestly? She'd probably agree."
Kerf?
- 12 lines made up of 4 tercets;
- syllabic: 6/7/10 per line;
- rhymed: rhyme scheme abc abc dec dec.
#TankaTuesday
The above kerf was written for Colleen M. Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompt: Poets were prompted to write syllabic poems based on the theme of ‘useful’.
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!
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
Thoughts that are hard to swallow. True to too many. Powerful piece, David.
☹️ KK ☹️ ~ it’s super sad
Yes, indeed. Hard to chew and hard to keep down.
😢 So honestly composed.
😥 George 😥
It’s sad there is more of this type of thinking now. Powerfully written.
yeah 😦 – I think it’s on the rise too…
I love the Kerf. And the poem’s a bit sad, seems like suicidal thoughts, eeh?
💔 Lamittan 💔 ~ it’s very, very sad… and there are really a lot of people like this.
Yes there are. Quite sad indeed, David.
Willy Loman as a construction worker?
Hadn’t thought of that! Could be…
😻
It’s horrible David and deeply troubling that folk see their lives as so devoid of value and worth that they think they wouldn’t be missed! ☹️☹️
and in the meanwhile, they’re barely living their lives at all – just struggling to survive day-to-day…
Existing, barely. Going through the motions. ☹️😭
A sad state of affairs but so true. I like the Kerf. It’s a great form. ❤
🤎 💗 Colleen, thank you 💗 🤎
You’re most welcome. ❤
A Kerf, eh? Cool. Your piece? Heartbreaking, to say the least. Why? Because I know people who see their lives this way. God Bless us, everyone.
😞 Annette 😞
That’s a sad one 😞but good 💜
💔 Daniel 💔 ~ it’s really very sad… Thanks.
Take good care,
David [ben Alexander]
I enjoyed this one. You used an interesting style.
🤗 Molly 🤗
So topical and to the point. I love the rhythm with this form, which I haven’t come across before. I’ll have to have a go at a Kerf. Very well done, David 💕🙂
💝 thanks, Harmony 💝
That’s fantastic David! 😁❤️👏👏 Heartbreaking 💔💔 yet fantastic! You’ve a wonderful ability to tell a powerful; vivid story in a few short lines. One of the previous comments on this mentioned that some folk see their lives like this! Sad thing is, it’s true. ☹️☹️
Yes, it’s totally true – this is a fictional character, but based upon all too many real human beings… It’s terrible. 😦
😔 working poor
😔 Tricia 😔