The Beyonder, or: Creativity forms verses

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 continued their journey together; 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 they go through the alphabet once more but in their new series, for every letter of the alphabet (A through Z), they would select not only a poetic form but also – a keyword for each poem.

Eventually, they completed their third series and decided to embark on a fourth towards the end of 2022. This time, taking turns, they would create their own poetic forms for every letter of the alphabet (A through Z), and exchange poems, as they’d done before.

For ‘B’, Sangeetha created the ‘Beyonder’ form.

B: Beyonder

Sangeetha’s Beyonder

Birthday wishes, dear David, I think you're faB
Ever happy to share your skill with versE
You've been the most wonderful writing partner... TrulY!
Open to wandering off on an adventure toO
Novel ideas you script on a new horizoN
Delighting us with another beautiful poem to reaD 
Enjoy beyondering! There is so much to explorE
Rejoice in the possibilities of now and foreveR

David’s Beyonder

In the form of 8 kimo poems

Born together we two, like true siblings; 
we unearth vast worlds entire; 
of verse's verdant womB. 

Each challenges and learns from the other; 
my craft quite unthinkable 
without your soul and lovE. 

Years we've shared and many more before us; 
each word of yours touches me, 
uplifts magicallY. 

Once, we were as children learning to walk; 
now, having gained confidence, 
we honor long agO. 

Never had I imagined partnership 
that nurtures my own essence, 
and through which I've so growN. 

Dear Sangeetha, you have my gratitude; 
we'll beyonder words as one; 
new, fresh forms shall abounD. 

Enjoyment is a given at this point; 
I relish every poem, 
as I craft each responsE. 

Rejoice? Yes, I do, as I pen these words 
wholeheartedly, with fondness, 
to my Dear BeyondeR.

Beyonder?

  • This form has 8 units;
    • The unit can be: a word, a line, a verse, a poem, a book of poemsโ€ฆ (you can go Beyondering);
  • Each unit has: the same number of words;
  • Each unit begins and ends with the same letter;
    • The Beyonder, like an acrostic poem, has the letters ‘B-E-Y-O-N-D-E-R’ in order. ‘B’ will be the first letter and the last letter of the first unit; ‘E’ the first and last letter of the second unit; and so on.

Sangeetha & David’s ‘Creativity forms verses’

  1. The Atoz
  2. The Beyonder
  3. The Ckackackonance
  4. The DoReMiDo
  5. The EX
  6. The Fibonacci Sapta
  7. The Golden Drill
  8. The Helipad
  9. The Inetersperse
  10. The Juxtadecasec
  11. The Keywyrd
  12. The Ludo
  13. The Metanome
  14. The Numberhyme
  15. The O(c)tlier
  16. The Polymono
  17. The Quadrenz
  18. The Rainbow
  19. The Syllibole
  20. The Telegramophone
  21. The Updise
  22. The Verisimili~me
  23. The Wiggle Waggle
  24. The Xtraverse
  25. The Yester
  26. The Ziggurat

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!

33 thoughts on “The Beyonder, or: Creativity forms verses”

    1. We’d probably switch letters of the alphabet, as we did after our second series. First, one of us starts with A, and the following round, the other one starts with A.

  4. I really love what the two of you have done with your writing! Very creative and interesting. Keep it up, looking forward to more.

  9. This duet is beyond delightful. There’s such kindness, respect and friendship apparent in these two poems. I, too, hope for many more years of beyondering for the two of you as you continue to share your poetic gifts with the world. Beautiful stuff, Sangeetha and David. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. I love how the You’ve and the Years are synergised in these two beautiful poems and creative relationship that keeps on blossoming and giving.
    And here we are, enjoying the fruits of your labour of love.
    One or the other always nestled below the Beyonder Tree.

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