
Denise E Lindquist
Bio
I am married with 7 children, 26 grands, and 11 great-grandchildren. I am a culture consultant part-time. I started writing A Poem a Day in February 7 years ago. I wrote 4 - 50,000 word stories in NaNoWriMo. Writing on Vocal/Medium now.
Stories (491/0)
A Woman Murdered
A Poetic Asides member shared a poetic form she created. I’m introducing Candace Kubinec’s form, the Waltmarie. Here are the guidelines for writing the Waltmarie: 10 lines, Even lines are two syllables in length, odd lines are longer (but no specific syllable count), Even lines make their own mini-poem if read separately, No other rules for subject or rhymes. Writer’s Digest, Robert Lee Brewer
By Denise E Lindquistabout 18 hours ago in Poets
Writing 50,000 Words
Zappai poems are like haiku, but not. Or maybe more appropriately, they’re like senryu, but not (or maybe they are). Zappai are poems that have a 5–7–5 syllable pattern that do not contain the seasonal reference expected of haiku. In other words, zappai are all those haiku people write that haiku poets recognize as not being haiku. Zappai should still be poetic, but they’re 5–7–5 poems that don’t include the seasonal reference. Writers Digest, Robert Lee Brewer
By Denise E Lindquist4 days ago in Poets
Let It Be You
The zejel is a very old Spanish poetic form that is also likely an even older Arabic poetic form with an origination date somewhere between the ninth and eleventh centuries. In fact, Edward Hirsch believes the form was probably invented by Mucaddam ben Muafa, a ninth century Hispano-Muslim poet. Here are the basic rules for zejel: First stanza is a tercet (3-line stanza) with an AAA rhyme scheme All other stanzas are quatrains (4-line stanzas) with a XXXA rhyme scheme, so the second stanza would be BBBA, third CCCA, fourth DDDA, and so on to the end of the poem. Lines are usually 8 syllables long. Alternate version: The version above is from Robin Skelton, but Hirsch offers an alternate version that begins with a couplet rhymed AA, followed by the BBBA, CCCA, etc. Also, Hirsch's version makes the repeating A line a refrain from the opening couplet that could be shorter than the other lines (sort of like in a rondeau). Writers Digest, Robert Lee Brewer
By Denise E Lindquist4 days ago in Poets
Growing Into Who I Am
This challenge to explore a moment where I grappled with my concept of identity has taken me some time to figure out. I never really think about it in those terms. I thought I always knew who I was. I am Denise Estey Lindquist. I have had other last names, including my maiden name Estey.
By Denise E Lindquist6 days ago in Poets
- Top Story - December 2023
National Novel Writing Month Is Over for 2023Top Story - December 2023
Almost every day I would ask myself, why am I doing this again? And I would answer that it helps me with my writing discipline. To meet the goal of 50,000 words it is only about 1700 words a day. 'Only' is not the right word for it, however!
By Denise E Lindquist7 days ago in Writers
Winter
Ya-du: Poetic Forms, Writers Digest, Robert Lee Brewer The ya-du is a Burmese poetic form. Here are the guidelines: Quintains (or five-line stanzas). Four syllables in the first four lines. The final line has either five, seven, nine, or 11 syllables. The fourth syllable of the first line rhymes with the third syllable of the second line and the second syllable of the third line. The fourth syllable of the third line rhymes with the third syllable of the fourth line and the second syllable of the fifth line. The fourth syllable of the fourth line rhymes with the final syllable of the final line. Subject usually deals with seasons. Most ya-du are written in three or fewer stanzas. Here's a way to visualize the structure/rhymes (with a 5-syllable final line): xxxa, xxax, xaxb, xxbc, xbxxc
By Denise E Lindquist8 days ago in Poets
480 Stories in 2.5 Years
In May 2021, my gift to myself was to write on Vocal Media. I had been reading on medium.com but not as a member, and not even every month for several years. I love to read. I didn’t know I would love to write. I knew I had a lot of stories that weren’t written, and I have even more now.
By Denise E Lindquist9 days ago in FYI
All Sass, No Class!
The waka is a Japanese 5-line poem (or stanza) that is often considered synonymous with the tanka, because both have a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable per line structure. However, the waka groups its lines together in a particular way. The first 2 lines should make up one piece, the next 2 lines should make the next, and then, the final line can stand on its own--or as part of the second group. It's possible to end stop after line 2, 4, and 5. But other forms of punctuation can do the trick as well. Writers Digest, Robert Lee Brewer
By Denise E Lindquist11 days ago in Poets
The Vikings
The villanelle, like the other French forms, does have many of the same properties as the rondeau: plenty of rhyme and repetition. This French form was actually adapted from Italian folk songs (villanella) about rural life. One of the more famous contemporary villanelles is “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” by Dylan Thomas. The villanelle consists of five tercets and a quatrain with line lengths of 8–10 syllables. The first and third lines of the first stanza become refrains that repeat throughout the poem. It looks like this: A(1), b, A(2), — a, b, A(1), — a, b, A(2), — a, b, A(1), — a, b, A(2), — a, b, A(1), A(2). Writers Digest, Robert Lee Brewer
By Denise E Lindquist12 days ago in Poets
Native Americans At Thanksgiving
When I placed a turkey message on my page on Facebook and got no feedback from family or Native American friends, I knew what that was about. A friend who is very in tune with the Native American culture commented about not "Celebrating Taking Day."
By Denise E Lindquist12 days ago in Families