The Fib Review issue # 12 is now out, with an incredible array of poets in this volume – harking from Asia, New Zealand, Canada, Gambia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Tunisia, the UK and the US. I am lucky enough to be among these poets and to have a Fibonacci poem, ‘The courtship of the Adelie penguins’, in this issue. It is just a drop, so to speak, but I would be very humbled if you all had a little read.
Fibonacci poems are quite a delight to construct, so well worth playing around with or using for a writing exercise for teachers. It is based around the mathematical Fibonacci number sequence, where every line is the sum of those preceding it. So, in sum (!), the sequence runs 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and onwards. Although many Fib poets play around with this sequence and stick more or less loosely to this pattern. As a consequence of this developmental, accumulative form, it generates visually fascinating forms.
Do head over to The Fib Review and have a read of some fib poems this morning – it was such a delight to have the issue up and posted when I returned from Paris this morning. Some poetry reading of this issue and my fellow Tuesday Poets’ poems was just what was called for after a dawn train journey.
July 3, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Elizabeth – it’s beautiful! This is my first encounter with the Fibonacci poem and I’m really intrigued.
July 4, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Thank you, Kathleen, for the very kind words – I’m pleased you like the little fib poem. It was a lot of fun to write – a great exercise for teaching poetry
July 4, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Congratulations, and such a gorgeous poem – the naturalness of the structure seems to suit it so beautifully.
July 4, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Thank you, Alicia, for the words of encouragement & congratulations
It just seemed to flow so easily using the fib structure – a very enabling (and fun!) form to play around with.
July 4, 2012 at 8:17 pm
You seem to be on a wonderful roll lately with all your successes! That’s great. re the Fibonacchi poem I love it..
‘take me
however
small my gift; a pebble
it means: water wash over us’
a sort of relationship christening…calm and spiritual.
July 5, 2012 at 2:42 am
I have been very fortunate, Helen – it’s definitely given me a real creative boost to write, write, write. I miss the sea a lot in London, so I seem to be using that image quite a bit in my poetry, often without even thinking. I’m so pleased you liked my little Fib poem