The Telegramophone, or: Creativity forms verses

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 ‘T’, Sangeetha created the ‘Telegramophone’ form.

---

T: Telegramophone

Sangeetha’s Telegramophone

Can't wait.
Come straight.
In deep chaos.
Yes, I'm cross.
Head in a mess.
Life in distress.
I need you here.
Yes, you my dear.
No fun alone.
Your arms, my home.
Right now is good.
Be here you should.
Telegram sent.
Yes, it's urgent.

David’s Telegramophone

I write.
All night.
It's half past three.
Can't sleep, you see.
Miss you so much.
Your smile, your touch.
Flight's been delayed.
New time displayed.
Huge, monstrous storm.
But- inn room warm.
Lightning flashing.
Thunder crashing.
Oh.
No.
Received new call.
About this squall.
Now- hurricane.
Delayed again.
This f*cking sucks.
Looks like I'm stuck.
Miss you so much.
I'll be in touch.

---

Telegramophone?

• Must have even number of lines;
• Each line has:
  • No more than four syllables;
  • No more than four words;
  • A full stop (period) at the end.
• Rhyme:
  • L1&L2 have to rhyme;
  • L3&L4 have to rhyme… (etc.)

---

---

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!