Trolaan was created by Valerie Peterson Brown, and is a poem consisting of 4 quatrains. Each line of the quatrain begins with the same letter. The rhyme scheme is abab.
Starting with the second stanza you use the second letter of the first line of the first stanza to write the second; each line beginning with that letter.
On the third stanza you will use the second letter on the first line of the second stanza and write the third each line beginning with that letter.
On the fourth stanza you will use the second letter on the first line of the third stanza and write the fourth each line beginning with that letter.
Marie Elena’s Rant:
BUT, TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL?
Each form has its limitations
Ears, and eyes, and brain oppose
Entertaining word relations
End, their playful tryst bulldozed.
All this time I’ve scorned Sestina
Aching brain now vows upon
Avoidance of this strict arena,
And Sestina’s evil spawn!
Lost my muse in form, unyielding
Longing for said muse to dance
Little lexicon I’m wielding,
Low, my brain is in a trance.
Ought now I these forms to hold?
(One would say true poets ought) –
Onward then despite head cold!
Or not.
Walt’s Example:
AS EVENING WANES
As evening wanes and morning
appears over the hill,
another day, with the sun adorning
all that lies quiet and still.
Soon, the shadows cast will
seem elongated and pronounced,
surrounded by the sounds that fill,
serenity has been announced.
Over in the quietest places,
one who seeks will find.
Of all their heart encases,
offerings are the thoughts within their mind.
Very soon the morning fades,
vacillating between now and noon,
valiantly the hours parade,
visions of nightfall coming soon.
© 2012 – Walt Wojtanik
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
Responses
This form is new to me, and tomorrow is my day off! Can’t wait. Wow! You guys offer two beauties and after reading them I understood the description. this looks like FUN. rhyming and all;))
Walt, Marie, your poems are soooo good! I was going to give this form a miss, but having read both of yours, I have to give it a go. Thank you.
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/trolaan.html
Not the easiest thing to do and I think mine is ungainly, but it was fun to do.
The colors really made the poem form self explanatory! Excellent idea and poem, Rinkly! 🙂
Yes, definitely liked the colors!
Very cool!
Thanks, ladies! Actually, I love Walt’s, but feel like mine should be renamed to TroLAAME. 😉
Rinkly, I love the colors you added, and can’t believe you wrote this that quickly! GREAT JOB!
Funny, Marie!! I think you both created shining examples! Thank you and I will be returning with an attempt. First more coffee and another read on the “directions!” Kind of neat…I knew a Valerie Brown once, I wonder if it’s the same person? 🙂
Smiles all @ happy form poeming!
Different Valerie. 🙂 And second pass on instructions…clear as a bell now… 🙂
Oh my….. my mind was spinning, then your examples brought clarity… Walt, yours is so pretty; meg, yours amusing :)! Thank you both.
Hell on Earth…(on Child Prostitution)
They stand, like crudely painted Barbie dolls
Twilight is a silent cue
The street becomes a tainted shopping mall
That broad daylight hides from view
Hell begins for some before death’s kind grace
Hope, a wretched mockery
Here crawls the lowest form of human race
Hate feeding lust’s misery
Evil steals the child’s right to innocence
Eyes mirror desperate need
Employers trade their lives for petty cents
Enslaved to dead gods of greed
Veiled propriety rises with the dawn
Visage feigns blind ignorance
Violence wears a suit and carries on
Victims seek cocaine deliverance
© Janet Martin
My daughters helped a street mission one week-end. Their horror stories are unforgettable. This is one that happens every night. As our youth were introduced to the streets the mission-worker told them what is about to transpire under the cover of darkness.
This is written so well, Janet, speaking to such a troublesome topic. I just watched a special on this recently, truly saddening.
OMG, this is almost too painful to read…..!
Henrietta, Hannah, this is very awful and I am sorry, but even more sorry for these victims caught in every level of this horror. but I awoke with the line,
‘they stand like painted dolls but mascara cannot disguise their bleeding grief…’ I changed it up because of form restrictions but when I wake up with a random line like this in my head I usually try to heed its prompt. To all who read this…it is not my intent to darken with thorns a flower garden. It seemed for some inexplicable reason this line would not go away so I wrote it… I hope to attempt a sunnier version tonight if time allows.
Thank-you~
Oh Janet, of course you must follow your deep inner spirit…. your writing was just so superb, that I just ached from the evil and sadness that inhabits parts of our world! Thank you for sharing…! Hen
Thank-you Hen:))
🙂
No apology is needed, Janet. You handled a horrid reality in a poignant and powerful way.. Beautifully penned.
Thank-you Marie.
Yes, what Marie said and I agree with you Janet, about heeding visions or lines that are planted that need to be written. You handled it beautifully. 🙂
Sometimes, Hen, the only proper way to exhibit this kind of subject is through poetry. The form strips away the extraneous, leaving behind only essence and raw emotion, which paints the picture few can turn from once they see it. It’s the turning away that causes so much agony in this world.
You did this with great acuity and left us wishing for answers to the problem and prayers for the victims. Brava! Hen.
Sorry, Janet. I meant to type your name instead of Hen. I had just looked at Henrietta’s name and my fingers took things into their own “hands” for a moment.
I really did know who wrote this haunting verse, Janet.
Thank-you Claudsy, I agree. Poetry offer a medium of expression like no other.
I appreciate the way you expressed your thoughts. Thank-you again.
Thanks, Janet. Expression for me depends on the day, many times. You, however, don’t seem to have that problem. I’m inspired by ones like you who can write so eloquently anytime.
Yes, you are absolutely right, it is the essence of life that pains me at times….. Hen
Funny how we respond to life’s little hiccups and the internal price we pay for them. I keep telling myself to BREATHE. I’ll suffocate one of these days.
Oh yes, Claudsy, lovely reminder to ourselves… simply Breathe…. Hen
Such emotion, Janet! Even just reading the first words of each line tells the story. No Apologies needed, poetry is expression and you expressed well.
Kelly, thank-you so much!
So great that your daughter went out there. I am so glad to hear that people do that. This is the first time I hear that anybody did something – how can I say – something real. I live on a small island and I so often have difficulties in understanding why people just don’t do something. Here you tell me that you do. Thanks!
Yes, they do. But there are so few of these unsung heroes compared to the horrible number of victims. The worker told her that what disgusts her the most is that the same people who ignore them, trip over them in business suits by day return at night…Victims at both ends. It is almost too sad to think about.
Andrea, I appreciate your thoughts so much…among them a line caught my fancy immensely! You’ live on a small island?!’ sounds like a dream:)
Thank-you for sharing.
Janet, What a well-written poem. Just excellent.
Newbie
Having never tried this form before
Hard it truly seems.
Hang on now for what is in store
Humor may be my only means.
Adapting to the previous letter
Amidst each and every quatrain
Awakens my senses and helps me write better
And really wakes up my brain.
Doing exercises in poetic formats
Does a number on my nerves
Driving me to dig deep in that
Dungeon of unwritten reserves.
Oh, what have I done to start with an “O”
Odd letter to work with for certain
Okay, I’ll try and give it a go
Or with regret I will be flirtin’!
Kelly, I laughed out loud as I read your last verse!!! I did the very same thing! I had the letter ‘V’! But I agree. all these new forms help to wake up my brain and expand my writing. Congrats! You did very well!
Driving me to dig deep in that
Dungeon of unwritten reserves.
Love those two so much!! 🙂
I’m with you, Hannah.
:)!
Hee, hee, just love it!
~CLAMORING TO CLIMB~
Myriad, kaleidoscope, splaying of color,
mismatched words tumble forth,
madness, making my hue pallor;
mystifying patterns, words worth.
Yesterday’s thoughts, images fighting,
years of inspiration bubbling, as from a spring,
yellow bursts, bright blinding bits of writing;
yes, the very core of me strung as beads upon a string.
Even in the most wordless of incidence:
ears will hear the soft whisper, nature resounding,
eyes wander, hungrily tasting, perfect providence;
early words mingle deeply, truth impounding.
Voice found flight on the feather of an intentional osprey,
visceral images float midst the most weightless of cloud,
verbiage finds venue under gem-green, burst of tree display;
vestiges remain, lack of direction for expression, merely a shroud.
That was truly fun!! Smiles!
Bravo! I enjoyed this so much…your opening line lures the reader in with dancing!…and the whole poem sparkled and danced with visions of spring! I enjoyed you ‘v’ words…i had the same letter for the last stanza.:)
Why, thank you, Janet!! Such a poetic compliment! 🙂
Wow, it’s amazing what you can do with words!
Hen!! You’re so sweet! I’m amazed by words daily, yours and everyone else’s, too. A sea of them just waiting to rise upon our shores! Thank you!
Yes, we are so very blessed! :)!!!
Indeed!! 🙂
“Even in the most wordless of incidence”….how many of those occur and sometimes are as moving as those with words or in the least, move us to words!. Just Lovely!
So very true, Kelly. I find my writing mind rotates in and out of wordiness and wordless cycles. Probably much the same for many writers, I think. Both are good. Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Yes … if you are looking for “lovely,” the road leads to Hannah.
Too sappy? Oh well. It’s the truth. 😉
Not too sappy!!! I’ll soak it right into this lil’ heart o’ mine! Thank you my friend!! ❤
Tongue twisters inside the verse makes it even more impressive. Great job, Hannah.
Wow! Thanks, Claudsy!! Smiles
I know I could never do it. You rock!
:)!! I can only “do it,” when I stop trying to. You do to in your way of beauty too!
Thanks, Hannah. I always like the work of others more than my own.
I know what you mean. 🙂 So glad we have this community to share in!
It nice around the garden, isn’t it?
Perfectly poignant! 🙂
I love this colorful brush! You’re really a master of creating images. Thanks!
Andrea!! Thank you immensely, very kind comment! 🙂
Wonderful job on a tough prompt.
Thanks so much, Sara!
[…] Directions for the Trolaan Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. […]
Very strange… I made a clickable link on my blog for directions and then this appeared here but I didn’t post it here?! Feel free to remove it you two, if you like. Kind of odd, does anybody know why that happened?
I’m not sure, Hannah. Walt seems to understand the mechanics of things better than I do. 😉
Thanks Marie! I’m learning as I go! 🙂
Heaven on Earth
Heaven opened up one day and spilled against the earth
Hallowed wonder pouring from a window up above
How else can we explain the joy of a wee baby’s birth?
Holding heaven softly in our humble arms of love
Every morning with the dawn His mercy is made new
Each evening a whisper of Him paints the western sky
Embrace this moment for it is His gift to me and you
Eternity is waiting in a sweeter by and by
Violets and daffodils to herald spring’s glad day
Velvet blue to hold the moon in summer’s warm midnight
Valley, field and hillside flame in autumn’s bold array
Victory crowns the evergreen in winter’s pristine white
Is there a man who can exceed an offering such as this?
Infinite redemption fills mankind with heaven’s worth
If this is not a glimpse Heaven, tell me then, what is?
In God we trust; as heaven spills its shadow on the earth
Lovely…
🙂
Soothing and lyrical. Love it!
There are so many lovely examples of this new form here. I’ve only the time to comment on a few. I will be back with my own tomorrow. Too many chores tonight.
Everyone has posted impressive work here, as always. I feel quite intimidated, trying to match anything already here.
Have a good night, all.
AS BETHANY READS
Book in lap, she reads to me
but ‘her’ story tells me more
born newly out of a book that she
begged me read to her before.
Oh the joy of her delight
over picture books and tales
of frogs and sheep and moons at night
of illustrated dogs and whales!
How, after listening on my knees,
her 3-year old voice asks so bold,
“Here, let me read it, Poppi, please”
her story is quite newly re-told.
Old men like me, we do shed tears
often at the treasured sound,
of granddaughters reading to our old ears.
Oh, picture books–forever abound!
—–
This was FUN! I just read a thread on the Writer’s Retreat forum, and posted a comment among many insights on e-books and the future of picture books. An experience this morning with my granddaughter Bethany was the fodder for this little experiment. Never heard of this form before, it was challenging but really fun.
Oh, dang! I changed the first word of the third stanza at the LAST minute before posting…that KILLED the form! Uhh…too late to be doing this heavy thinking. It should have read…
How, after listening on my knees,
her 3-year old voice asks so bold,
“Here, let me read it, Poppi, please”
her story is quite newly re-told.
Pushed the post button too quickly…drat it!
Sevenacresky, if you go back and look, I was able to correct according to your wish. I agree, it works much better. Thanks for contributing and Marie and I hope you do so on a regular basis. Walt.
Yes, welcome Sky!! So good to see you here! Those grandkids are such great inspiration, aren’t they?
Thanks Marie for the correction! My pinkie often does the thinking for me on the keyboard! Yes this is a fun ace to be. The other postings and trolaans are so fantastic. A new form (for me) I will be using often.
And yes those grands are delights.
Correction: Walt is the correct corrector. 😉
Thanks Walt!
This could be a lullaby by word and pacing. Great work, Sky.
Claudsy,I never thought of that. I gvr a collection of lullabyes so I may work on this.
Its pace and rhythm has that feel to me. I admire those who can write lyrics that just naturally flow.
Congrats! It’s a song.
Oh, what a precious, fun capture… aren’t they just adorable?!!!
I loved this! There is nothing that can take the place of turning pages and watching their wee minds soar!
This is so visual and fun!
I wanted to share that experience I mentioned with my granddaughter “reading,” or re-telling a story from that morning–It’s available on youtube here:
That was the experience that prompted my Trolaan above.
ONE LOVE
Under the sky
up above the clouds
Ulster claims victory,
ultimately!
No need arguing
neither Dean nor Jean,
Nora, party dressed in green.
North Cumberland just got us.
On this bright summer day
our dreams
of happy hours in the night
out conquered you,
nearly.
Marie and Walt, what a great challenge. I’m amazed how you fit in your words in both your poems – they work great. Here I’m inspired by your funny discussion of who won what.
Wow! You guys did some brilliant work on this form. I’ve made an attempt at it (with the help of Worthless Word for the Day.)
Age Springs Eternal
‘They’ say youth’s wasted on the young.
‘They’ say appreciation starts
the day you realize you’ve clung
too long on puerile counterparts.
However, I must disagree.
Hardscrabble cannot be one’s soul.
How can ‘they’ state so blanketly
how nature is beyond control.
O, do I think I’m young? I do.
Onolatry means naught to me.
Orgulous, my age tends to skew
old? Not! Think juvenility.
Does that mean that I don’t believe
degringolade comes with one’s age?
Don’t kid yourself. We all would cleave
decisively to vernal stage.
Hardscrabble – difficult
Onolatry – devotion to foolishness
Orugulous – proud
Juvenility – youthfulness
Degringolade – rapid decline
Vernal – springtime, youthful
###
ooops – in the definition section, I misspelled orgulous. Sorry about that.
That’s it. You’re outa here.
(LOL!!)
🙂 Enjoyed. Thank-you for the ‘glossary’ at the end:)
heehee
LOL!!!
Having a Ball
May as well take a risk, she said with a sigh.
Might be our last chance to do this after all.
Must, sooner or later, all up and die.
May as well go while having a ball.
After she said this, we leaped from the plane.
Air rushed by us, as we fell toward the ground.
And I wondered, by this time, if we were both insane.
As I said my prayers on the way down.
Falling so fast, it was now time.
Fingers quickly found the life saving chord.
For a moment I thought things were just fine.
Fine, I knew now, wasn’t the word.
Amazing to think what my last thoughts were,
As I bolted past her as she floated along.
A risk? Having a ball? Maybe for her.
Ah, but for me something went wrong.
Ohh Nooo!
Don’t know where this one came from. Just wrote it off the top of my head. Just when you thought I was so positive. 🙂
Well done.
I found this form to be very challenging. For me, it’s not the rhyming as much as it is the first letter of each line.
I’m just curious as to how all of you tackle a form such as this. Do you begin with a theme in mind? Specific words you wish you include? Do you plan it out ahead, or just write as you go and see where the form takes you? I’d love to hear your process.
I found the most difficult part to pick a topic! Then… I just let the spirit lead. I groaned when I realized in the second poem I had a ‘v’ verse again, but the fun of a challenge IS the challenge so I let it be, and when I got there the ‘ve’ verse sort of fell into place. I hope to use this form more often. The funny thing on the last poem was that without realizing it I switched to aabb rhyme scheme. So I shuffled the lines to proper format and it still worked out okay. Of course, you know how I feel about rhyme:) It is free verse that I am trying to build confidence in. Thank-you for all your support and encouragement to the writers here, Marie and to the rest of you also.
That’s neat that you thrive on the challenge, Janet. I do to a point, but then I can get discouraged and give up on it. The Sestina is just a bear for me. Too much attention to detail that my mind has a hard time wrapping around can kill my creativity quick as a wink. 😦
Thanks for your input!
Aw, now, Marie, you should have plenty of practice with that particular form. You’ve edited for me on my attempts often enough to have the blasted thing memorized by now.
I don’t know that I’m good at it, but some things and forms just fit the subject. I love limericks, but I’m not good at them. I get to the third line and fall on my face.
Yes, your rhyme is so natural, Janet! I love how you say you let the Spirit lead, I can feel that in reading your work! 🙂
I agree 100%. 🙂
:)! Marie!
I have to say that I like this challenge as well. You know me. I count syllables and use those for pattern as much as anything else. I don’t do rhyme very often, simply because I don’t think I’m good at it. Maybe I should practice more to get more secure in its use. I almost changed the whole form, to create a form within the stated one. I tend to do that.
The poem I put here right now is one that I’m still not comfortable with. What I started out to write was totally different by the time I got to the end; a different meaning, a different feel. I guess I just lost control of the horse I was riding. I’ll use more rein next time.
I love your metaphor for a poem getting away from you Clauds!!! I have felt that way on many occasions! I think with rhyme, the best kinds are the unlikely ones. Or I guess I mean the less obvious ones. I find lately my favorite rhyme is the inner rhyme, sounds held within the words. So much fun to play! 🙂
That’s a very true statement. And you’re right about rhyming, too.
Glad for the poetic conversation, thank you, Clauds!
You’re welcome.
“What I started out to write was totally different by the time I got to the end; a different meaning, a different feel. I guess I just lost control of the horse I was riding. I’ll use more rein next time.”
I’m smiling at how you worded this, and it describes my writing to a T more times than I can count. 😉
This is one of the first times I’ve written form that I refused to let the “wall,” go up upon seeing/hearing the word form, hindering creativity. I gently let my brain wrap itself around the form itself and upon understanding didn’t hesitate and just let the words flow. I didn’t pick a topic this time, just let the words tumble where they may. This form actually spoke to the heart of this poet because I find such joy in alliteration. Really fun!! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our processes, Marie.
“I gently let my brain wrap itself around the form itself and upon understanding didn’t hesitate and just let the words flow.”
Wow. This is how I wish it worked every time for me. You commented on how Janet says she lets the Spirit lead … I believe this is exactly what you are describing. 🙂
I wish it worked this way every time for me, too, Marie! 😉 I think it was a good week and a good form for it to work out this way! Thank you for speaking to your belief about the Spirit, I truly appreciate your fresh eyes and insight around the topic. Such a great question you asked, happy for space to “chat,” about poetry. Sweet smiles to you!
And right back to you, Sweetie!
Thank you!! 🙂
This is my first attempt at this challenge form. This is also only the first draft, though the last stanza took four tries to get it to work. I hope you enjoy it, or at least don’t throw stones. Of course, the constant interruptions didn’t help the process for me at all. Anyway, here goes.
Trolaan In-Form Challenge
Silencing the Snorer
It comes during the night
Insinuating itself into dream,
Informing the mind, right
Into an alarmed scream
Teertering on the edge of wakefulness,
The dreamer listens with intent,
Trembling in dark corners of distress,
Terrors of nights misspent.
Each nerve stretches tighter,
Erasing slumber’s relaxation,
Embers of a fighter
Emerge toward vexation.
A groan and twist position the sleeper,
Angle’s proper to deliver
A reminder of life’s great reaper,
An elbow, sharp quiver.
Now THAT’S a trolaan my wife would appreciate!
I’ve had people threaten me at times. I laugh when any of them are louder than I am.
Glad you enjoyed it.
*gigglegiggle*
Yeah, I was a laugh-a-minute that day. It still needs work, I think.
Oops! Actually, my giggles were in response to Seven Acre Sky’s reaction. Guess I stuck it in the wrong place… but it still fits. 😉
No problem. I wasn’t being sarcastic, really. I hoped it would strike someone’s funny bone when I wrote it. You had the perfect response.
If I’d really been paying attention I would have change the beginning letter of the second stanza to an “A” so that it would spell IDEA all the way down.
I may have to rewrite it just so that I can do that.
And I can’t type worth spit tonight. I must be too tired. I meant I’d change the second stanza to start with “D” to spell IDEA.
That would be really neat, Clauds and a new additional challenge to the challenge!! Yours is great, very visual! 🙂
Thank you, Hanna. It’s not polished yet, but I tried.
And that is the better part of the battle! Nice! Smiles to you!
Aaaahahaha!!! Thanks, Claudsy!
OOOH! Like this one.
Thanks, purple.
This is the hardest challenge I’ve had in a while.
Friendship ( a Trolaan)
Faithful friendships are often rare,
Treasure them as second hearts.
Though miles between may interfere
Trust in loyalties as your guiding charts.
Remember vacations you spent together,
Rising to view the ocean at dawn,
`Round fireplaces in fickle weather
Seaside servings of giant prawns.
Enjoy the company of good friends,
Endeavor to know they are vital to you.
Encourage and support; help them mend
Encroaching woes that may ensue.
Never stay in a state of rage,
Nostrils flaring in the face of offense
Not intended, though perhaps not sage.
No compromise means a permanent fence.
Oh so true, Sara! Loved: “…Rising to view the ocean at dawn, fireplaces in fickle weather Seaside servings of giant prawns.” Memories of lovely, secluded, mini vacations by the sea…
Thanks, Hen.
Sorry I’m tardy to the party this week. Crazy busy. Marie, your poem was amazing. This was tougher than it sounded and tied my tongue every other line. I finally decided to just go with the wind and weather happening outside my window and hope for the best. It has blooms in it–does that count? teehee j
Soaker
The winds blew in a heavy rain
That thumped the ground like fists on clay
Thick storm clouds rushing past again
To get to somewhere else that may
Have need of purple-clouded skies
Hard down-pours and swift-moving streams
Homes dry as dust who realize
How water figures in their dreams
A drought may last for months and we
Ask daily for a kindred shower
And pray whatever gods there be
Assuage our thirst, if but an hour
Droplets of rain depend upon
Dry earth to hold them for a while
Damp seeds can sprout under the sun
Drenched, quenched, the earth can bloom and smile
Jane, I never could have guessed you struggled with this form. WONDERFUL WORK.
Marie and Walt, Your poems are wonderful. I really struggled with this form.
I know I’m late on this one but I’m trying out older prompts:
Through Her Eyes
Hopping up and down and up
“Hurry, we have to go!”
Hurling in her special cup
“Have everything now, I know.”
“Onward then,” I agreed
Only to please my little charge
Out the door with all her speed
Opening it made her large
“Next stop, libaby” she cried
Never could pronounce it right
No correction, only pride
New books were her delight
Every page she turned was new
Even old stories changed as she read
Exposition as only she could do
Exploding stale ideas inside my head
[…] I visited Poetic Bloomings, where Marie Elena and Walt prompt both budding and experienced poets to write in forms that some […]
LOVE IT! She is soooooo expressive! Thanks so much sharing, and I do so hope you are right about the picture book. I can’t imagine a childhood without them. 🙂
[…] I visited Poetic Bloomings, where Marie Elena and Walt prompt both budding and experienced poets to write in forms that some […]