The Ukiah, or: Creativity verses form

Posted on by ben Alexander

Sangeetha & David’s new poetry project

Once upon a time, two poets who’d never met in person began writing verses back and forth over the Internet. Their first project took them some nine months: a 100 verse Hyakuin.

Once they’d completed their first oeuvre, they decided to continue their journey together; and Sangeetha came up with a fun idea. Beginning in January ’22, they took turns selecting poetic forms beginning with the letters of the alphabet (A through Z) and wrote poems to one another using those forms.

Upon completing that second project, Sangeetha suggested that they go through the alphabet once more, this time with an addition twist… In their new series, for every letter of the alphabet (A through Z), the two would select not only a poetic form but also – a keyword for each poem.

For ‘U’, David selected the ‘Ukiah’ form and the keyword ‘Underwear’.

U: Ukiah

David’s Ukiah

I can't find my underwear...
Neither here nor there!
Dear friend, could we share your pair?

Sangeetha’s Ukiah

Underwear ~ Recycle! Reuse!
But please don't refuse
And at the waist... not too loose!

Ukiah (Reverse Haiku)?

  • A tristich: three lines;
  • Monorhyme: all lines rhyme;
  • Syllabic:
    • L1 and L3 contain 7 syllables;
    • L2 contains 5 syllables.

Sangeetha & David’s ‘Creativity verses form’

  1. The Alliterisen (#alternatives)
  2. The Bragi (#books) [1st attempt]
  3. The Bragi (#books) [correct]
  4. The Cadae (#crisis)
  5. The Dodoitsu (#desire)
  6. The Emmett (#elves)
  7. The Fold (#friend)
  8. The Golda (#gravity)
  9. The Harrisham (#hope)
  10. The Inverted Refrain (#imagination)
  11. The Jram (#jubilee)
  12. The Kลel (#kismet)
  13. The Lai (#love)
  14. The Monometric (#motivation)
  15. The Nove Otto (#night)
  16. The Ovillejo (#origins)
  17. The Purely Hopeful (#poetry)
  18. The Quatern (#quiet)
  19. The Raay (#roots)
  20. The Septanelle (#smiles)
  21. The Trianglet (#time)
  22. The Ukiah (#underwear)
  23. The Violette (#vintage)
  24. The Whyquain (#wisdom)
  25. X (wildcard): The Eight-ette (#excuse)
  26. The Ya Hoo (#yes)
  27. The Zip (#zip)

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!

29 thoughts on “The Ukiah, or: Creativity verses form”

  4. I’ve realised that my unconsidered ditty, dashed off just now, might have under/overtones I didn’t intend. In really didn’t intend them, rest assured!

    1. ๐Ÿ™ƒ ๐Ÿ˜‰ Yes, we’re trying to get this project off the ground, Judy… We call it the “USP” – the “Underwear Sharing Project!” ๐Ÿ™ƒ ๐Ÿ˜‰

      ~David

  10. I love your creativity! What fun to see all the various poetic forms! I had not heard of Ukiah before … Haiku spelled backward. I love it!!

    Should I choose black, beige, or pink?
    Wash all ones that stink.
    Only black aren’t in the sink.

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