A Choka
swirling lava churns heartburn rises in locked chest I know the object of my scorn mirrors the soul let alone coarse thoughts throat caught bursting overwrought bloodshot inner eye cannot see through burning tears powerless it glares angry at my reflection faceless pathetic mocking
Choka?
The most intricate Japanese Poetry form is the Choka, or Long Poem. The early form consisted of a series of katauta joined together. This gives a choice of form structures of 5/7/5/5/7/7โฆ etc., or: 5/7/7/5/7โฆ etc.
The Choka could be any total line length and indeed many exceeded 100 lines. Looking at this, it is easy to see why Poetic Historians believe the katauta is the original basic unit of Japanese poetry using either the 17 or 19 unit onji.
d’Verse Quadrille
The above choka is my take on dโVerseโs Quadrille challenge.
The Quadrille is simply a poem of 44 words (excluding the title), and it can take any form. This weekโs challenge was to use the word โmirrorโ in a Quadrille.
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 ๐ฎ๐ฑ 
Very dramatic!
I am glad to learn about the choka and katauta, too.
๐๐๐ป Rosemary ๐๐ป๐ ~ thanks so much
~David
A devastating, hard-hitting reflective poem David! As my grandma would say, “Maybe it’s something you ate.” ๐
Going back to that same mirror tomorrow, you may see a brilliant writer, honest, empathetic, and loving husband and father. As my mother would say, “You’ll feel better in the morning!”
๐๐๐ป Cheryl ๐๐ป๐ ~ thank you
Quite dramatic, and the last line cinches it.
๐ ๐๐ป Dolly ๐๐ป ๐
๐ป
Wow! Powerful and intense!
๐๐๐ป Chris ๐๐ป๐ ~ thank you
~David
Very powerful David ๐
๐ค๐๐ป Ange ๐๐ป๐ค ~ thank you
The raw honesty of this catches me sharply, powerful. And the form, Iโm fascinated with the Choka.
๐๐๐ป Paul ๐๐ป๐ ~ I like that it can be of different lengths
Yes, I might play with it – thank you David.
David, this poetic form intrigues me … I have yet to try it. Your words, this look in the mirror, dark reflection/s.
๐งก๐๐ป Helen ๐๐ป๐งก
Intense write, David…it shook me with its force.
๐ค๐๐ป Punam ๐๐ป๐ค ~ thank you for sharing that
You are welcome, David. โค๏ธ
Sometimes the toughest demons we face, are looking back at us in the mirror. We can be our own worst enemy at times. This poem but home David. Powerful writing my friend.
๐ค๐๐ป Nigel ๐๐ป๐ค ~ thanks so much