This poem uses the form of haiku (5-7-5) twice in each stanza of six lines. Within each stanza there is a rhyme scheme abccba. As far as I am aware this is a new poetic form!

In elephant’s foot
It stood, awaiting rainfall,
Slim-sheathed by the door,
Proudly pre-downpour
Then, unfurled outside the hall,
All to purpose put.

Silken circle spread,
Rain rattles on taught cover
Outspanned from that sheath.
Shelter here beneath
Until the shower’s over
Or gales blow instead.

Fate’s fanned by the wind,
Inverting epidermis,
Torturing stressed struts
Till it no more shuts;
Umbrella in extremis,
Twisted, broken, binned!

Pride in slimness small,
Pride in ease of erection,
Pride in outspread wings,
Proudly boasting sings
But, without circumspection,
Comes before a fall!

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  • Ben Johnson on Jan 7, 2009

    Hi James, this is the first of yours that I have read and I\’m encouraged to read more. I am a sucker for poetical forms and as far as I know you are right with this being a new form. I\’ve seen haiku chains before but the added element of a fixed rhyme scheme sets this apart, and it works quite nicely. I will try using the same at some time, if it isn\’t copyrighted :)

    Great last line very cleverly sums up the umbrella\’s existance.

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