IN-FORM POET WEDNESDAY – MEMENTO

The MEMENTO, created by Emily Romano, is a poem about a holiday or an anniversary of some sort. It consists of two six-line stanzas as follows:

Line 1: 8 syllables

Line 2: 6 syllables

Line 3: 2 syllables

Line 4: 8 syllables

Line 5: 6 syllables

Line 6: 2 syllables

Repeat the above pattern for the second stanza.

The rhyme scheme is: a/b/c/a/b/c for each of the two stanzas.

More Information/Examples: Memento Poetry at Shadow Poetry

MARIE ELENA’S MEMENTO:

“Do This in Remembrance of Me”

 As oft I take the wine and bread
 Recall the cross for me
 He bore
 Rejoicing He’s no longer dead,
 The risen Christ that we
 Adore.
 
How wicked is the human race
 How deep the hollow of
 Man’s fall.
 The Author of redeeming grace
 Bestows His utmost love
 For all.

 © Copyright Marie Elena Good – 2013

WALT’S MEMENTO:

YOU’RE ONLY AS OLD AS YOU FEEL

Some days, you are full of fire,
ready for what life brings.
You stand
fanning the flames of that pyre
until those embers sing!
And then

some days you just get a raw deal,
too much life to handle;
to give.
You’re only as old as you feel.
So blow out the candles
and live!

© Copyright Walter J. Wojtanik – 2013

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Responses

  1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
    erinkayhope15

    Marie, that’s the first thing I thought of! You’ve done a terrific job! You too, Walt!

  2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
    erinkayhope15

    I’ll Never Forget

    Five years since, I remember still,
    That day, and I still cry
    Every

    Day you’re not here, because I will
    Not forget, though I’ll try
    Maybe.

    1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Oh two stanzas? Sheesh, I’ll be back!

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      I’ll Never Forget (amended)

      Five years since, I remember still,
      That day, and I still cry
      Every
      Day you’re not here, because I will
      Not forget, though I’ll try
      Maybe.

      But I can’t get you out of my heart
      Or my head, I still love
      You, Cam.
      And even though we had to part,
      I sure you can still love;
      I am!

      1. claudsy Avatar
        claudsy

        Good one, Erin. And so fast, too.

      2. vivinfrance Avatar
        vivinfrance

        Sad,

      3. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
        Henrietta Choplin

        1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
          erinkayhope15

          Thanks guys! ❤

  3. claudsy Avatar
    claudsy

    Marvelous examples, Marie and Walt. This might take me a few tries to get it right. Thank the powers that be, there are no meters for me.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      :D!

  4. vivinfrance Avatar
    vivinfrance

    Memento
    Posted on January 30, 2013 by vivinfrance

    The day that I was seventy-five
    was not a happy one

    at all

    I was still glad to be alive
    although I had no fun

    at all.

    Confined to bed in hospital
    is after all no place

    for fun

    but I was philosophical
    put on a happy face

    for fun.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      You made the best of it, Viv… it is really all that we can do each day… I hope that you are well!

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Oh, I hope you’re okay now!

  5. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
    Henrietta Choplin

    Oh, Loved both, for different reasons!

  6. Janet Avatar
    Janet

    Our dear, dearest Walt and Marie,
    You have both gently shown
    The way
    To living our moments fully
    In spite of life’s unknown
    Each day

    Redeeming love and saving grace
    Acceptance in the will
    Of Now
    Will teach us daily to embrace
    The tides of good or ill
    That blow

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      “…To living our moments fully…” <3!!

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Yes! So true, Janet! They’ve done a lot for us. Nice poem!

  7. Daniel Paicopulos Avatar
    Daniel Paicopulos

    2013

    Valentine written completely,
    reservations all made,
    ready,
    for loving and doting sweetly,
    to feel the gaze of my
    steady.

    There’s no better time for a poem
    than Valentine’s Day, we
    are sure.
    There’s no other place than our home,
    no better place to be,
    so pure.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      !!!!! ❤ !!

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Aw! This is so sweet, Daniel! I love Valentine’s Day!

  8. connielpeters Avatar
    connielpeters

    I guess I’m still stuck on the topic of birds.

    Motivation

    Fat pigeons dot the shaded park.
    They search for seed and grain,
    And feed.
    Often besieged by a dog’s bark,
    They snub it in the main,
    From greed.

    We humans can be stubborn, too,
    Lasting through resistance
    Of foes.
    It’s what necessity can do,
    Inspiring persistence
    Which grows.

    1. Janet Avatar
      Janet

      Wow Connie, well spoken:) I’m hoping to ‘go to the birds’ today! Hoping, but sometimes life stands in my way;)

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Well done, Connie!

  9. Janet Avatar
    Janet

    Conception of Misconception

    In lack of honest, uttered word
    Or the ineptness of
    Their mien
    In truths too seldom breathed or heard
    Lost somewhere in self-love
    Between

    …the moment when I should have said
    Those words that I chose not
    To say
    Before assumptions in your head
    Consume your misled thought
    Today

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      “…the moment when I should have said…” Can stay with us for a Lifetime…

      1. Janet Avatar
        Janet

        Yes, it can…

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Oh, I know what you mean… Well put, Janet!

  10. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
    Henrietta Choplin

    The 10th Day of Each Month~A Lesson in Life

    This date, it comes and goes with time
    Yet, I remain in awe
    of it

    I wonder, Will there come a time
    when I cannot recall
    of it?

    This does not mean that I’ll forget
    In life we never do,
    Only…

    That of this thought, I don’t regret,
    …that sweet mirage of you…
    …Only…?

    1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Beautiful…and sad.

      1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
        Henrietta Choplin

        <3… such is Life… Thank you, Erin.

  11. Salvatore Buttaci Avatar
    Salvatore Buttaci

    CHRISTMAS MOMENTO

    Warm laughter shared in joy that day
    I saved in memory,
    Christmas
    Of my past. Never far away,
    You made us feel carefree.
    What bliss!

    Our parents sent us out to play,
    Then decorate the tree.
    I miss
    Us at table. Heads bowed, we prayed.
    Christmas, to you from me:
    A kiss!

    #

    (C) 2008 Salvatore Buttaci

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      How sweet…

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      So sweet, Sal!

  12. janeshlensky Avatar
    janeshlensky

    First Bloom

    Bright stars burst through the slush and snow,
    their petals stretch like rays
    of light;
    a sweet surprise unfurls. We know
    new warmth on coldest days,
    delight.

    In every frozen heart there lies
    a flower in the bud
    for us;
    we wear faith shining from our eyes
    to find beauty in mud—
    crocus

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      Such a sweet surprise, aren’t they…

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      This is beautiful! Just like those tiny buds. Thanks for the pretty image, Jane!

  13. Jacqueline Hallenbeck Avatar
    Jacqueline Hallenbeck

    POET’S DAY (Piss Off Early, Tomorrow’s Saturday)

    Fridays are made for poets who
    put their notebooks aside
    and hit
    the open mic wooing, pursu-
    -ing glory nationwide.
    Misfits,

    creatures of the night vying for
    your attention; women
    and girls.
    Men, leaving it all on the floor.
    Us, leaving our mark on
    the world.

  14. Ellen Knight Avatar
    Ellen Knight

    Ode to ‘In-Form Wednesdays’

    New forms give me quite the challenge,
    the syllables today
    are king.
    Adding to the counter-challenge,
    rhymes still needed to say
    the thing.

    Introducing new dance tempos
    often make me stumble
    and fall.
    I’d much rather be writing prose
    so as not to bumble
    it all.

    Ellen Knight 1.30.13

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      🙂

  15. RJ Clarken Avatar
    RJ Clarken

    Don’t Blow Out the Candles

    Forever’s exactly how long
    you want the cake to last.
    Icing
    on the cake is not your swan song.
    Stop looking to the past.
    Spicing

    things up with a dash vanilla,
    nutmeg or ginger can
    convince
    you you’re The Most Happy Fella
    or maybe Peter Pan,
    long since.

    ###

    1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Lovely, RJ!

  16. Tapping the Reserves | Metaphors and Smiles Avatar
    Tapping the Reserves | Metaphors and Smiles

    […] Poetic Bloomings-In Form Wednesday […]

    1. Hannah Gosselin Avatar
      Hannah Gosselin

      Tapping the Reserves

      Released beneath yesterday’s scree,
      chance and hope to invest;
      faith’s born.
      Life’s trials and burden’s a key,
      call to draw near for rest-
      new morn.
      Each day’s an anniversary,
      a promise to yourself,
      feel Loved.
      From the depths of deep galaxy
      there’s an unending wealth
      above.

      Copyright © Hannah Gosselin 2013

      1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
        erinkayhope15

        Love this, Hannah! Beautiful!

        1. Hannah Gosselin Avatar
          Hannah Gosselin

          Thank you!! ♥

      2. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
        Henrietta Choplin

        Yes…

  17. Hannah Gosselin Avatar
    Hannah Gosselin

    Such beautiful examples here!! Excellent form…thank you! 🙂

  18. claudsy Avatar
    claudsy

    This was a tricky one for me, though I’m not sure why. I hope I’ve done it correctly. I’ll be back to comment on all poems from Sunday through today.

    Down by the Seashore

    Beaches washed with soft blue waters,
    Skies screeching with sea birds;
    Sunshine.
    Never a comber who falters,
    Even at sea’s foam curds,
    Surf line.

    Toes separated by warm sand
    Squirm, feeling Earth’s wet breast
    Beneath,
    Wondering if ever my hand
    could make a green wave-pressed
    sea wreath.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      Oh, Lovely… <3!!

      1. claudsy Avatar
        claudsy

        Thanks, Hen. Glad you liked it.

        1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
          Henrietta Choplin

          ! 🙂

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      So pretty! The beach is always a good place to find inspiration…

      1. claudsy Avatar
        claudsy

        Thanks, Erin. I think the beach is a good place to find many things, including one’s own thoughts and inner peace. Glad you liked it.

  19. Poetry from One Memento to Eternity | Two Voices, One Song

    […] In-form Poet Wednesday – Memento (poeticbloomings.com) […]

  20. janeshlensky Avatar
    janeshlensky

    So often I forget to tell you, Marie and Walt, what fine poems you write to be an example to us. You’re both just the bees’ knees, the cats’ whiskers, writers of wondrous things. This one I posted today at PA, using your memento form.

    Almost Forever

    Science spoils poetry, you say,
    stars sequinning the night.
    Romance
    forever frightens facts away—
    stars die and lose their light
    bright glance.

    Lie back and watch the heavens sift
    stars, gaze into the face
    above.
    Eons reflected feel like gift,
    already gone, no trace,
    but love.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      “Romance/forever frightens facts away–…” :)!

  21. janeshlensky Avatar
    janeshlensky

    One more. These are almost as addictive as shadorma.

    The Beast Within

    “That kind of pain feels like forever.” Mary Craver

    Deep suffering helps us to know
    pain has its own body
    fierce beast
    its claws and gnaws relentless, slow
    its power sharp, godly
    fear’s feast

    Sometimes when it sleeps, we are free
    to tiptoe through our mind
    light breath
    and whisper through our teeth that we
    have hope to leave behind
    grim death

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      “…pain has its own body…” words to ponder…

  22. purplepeninportland Avatar
    purplepeninportland

    Six tries on this one, and I’m not liking it!

    Christmas And Uncle Bill

    One Christmas day remains ingrained,
    driving home, L.IE.
    in snow.
    Poor Dad at wheel did not complain.
    Far as the eyes could see,
    slo-mo.

    Uncle Bill in passenger seat,
    grabs his stomach in pain,
    and groans.
    Four hours passed, the trip complete.
    The ER nurse exclaimed,
    gall stones.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      Hi Sara… I also worked on mine for hours! I hope Uncle Bill was okay after his diagnosis.

      1. purplepeninportland Avatar
        purplepeninportland

        He was, thanks.

    2. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      Oh terrible! No wonder you remember so well!

  23. Linda E.H. Avatar
    Linda E.H.

    I’d never heard of this form. Thanks!

  24. RJ Clarken Avatar
    RJ Clarken

    Boo

    When I first met you, well, I thought,
    he’s kinda cute. Wonder
    if he
    might like me. Or, uh, perhaps not.

    Scared I’d make a blunder
    (or flee)

    I forced myself to reach, to touch…
    it was destiny not
    to fail.
    Fear would no longer be a crutch.
    Response? You wagged (a lot!)
    your tail.

    ###

    (BooBoo is my 8 1/2 month old puppy. ♥)

    1. erinkayhope15 Avatar
      erinkayhope15

      How cute! I am dying to get a puppy!

    2. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      !!! 😀 !!

  25. jacquelinecaseypoetry2012 Avatar
    jacquelinecaseypoetry2012

    “The Day that you were Born”

    Up the hospital steps he flies!
    the day that you were born:
    cleats burst!
    Beneath his baseball cap, he sighs…
    sees you breathe on your own;
    feet first!

    Clanging down hospital hallway
    chew tobacco spitting
    waddles
    grins your father from his ball-play,
    ear-to-ear; my fist would
    throttle!

  26. jacquelinecaseypoetry2012 Avatar
    jacquelinecaseypoetry2012

    Today is my son, Clint Casey’s birthday and the above is a true story.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      Aww… so Sweet!! Happy Birthday, Clint Casey!! 🙂 !!

  27. Michelle Hed Avatar
    Michelle Hed

    Mementos

    Within a chest there is a box
    with love letters folded
    and tied.
    They represent the building blocks
    of how our loved molded
    this ride.

    We celebrate on any day
    the love that quickly grew
    inside.
    Unfolding like a spring bouquet
    even as the years flew,
    we glide.

    1. Henrietta Choplin Avatar
      Henrietta Choplin

      1. Marjory M thompson Avatar
        Marjory M thompson

        HOO – HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO POST OR COMMENT – So this is a surprise to me that the machine is cooperating. Computers can flog the brain. Hopefully (SOON) my computer and I will get back in sink. ‘Till then, I just read and enjoy. Great poeming in the garden.

  28. Two Voices, One Song

    […] In-form Poet Wednesday – Memento (poeticbloomings.com) […]

  29. Pamela Smyk Cleary (PSC) Avatar
    Pamela Smyk Cleary (PSC)

    Better late than never! Here’s my offering — for Valentine’s Day! 😉

    Valentine’s Day (a memento)

    It’s time again to celebrate:
    kisses, hugs, hearts, roses,
    cupid.
    Get on board before it’s too late,
    (unless you suppose it’s
    stupid.)
    But, if you have an open mind,
    (and you don’t mind some flack),
    my friend:
    send love out to the world. Be kind.
    You’ll find it coming back
    again.

    ~ ~ ~
    And a link to my blog — where my Valentine’s mini-cards (inspired by 14 Words for Valentine’s Day) can also be found:

    http://wanponpopix.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentines-day-memento.html