Awash

Where I am: a structured poem form consisting of 4 lines, rhyming on alternate lines, first line starts with “where i am” and third line starts with “what i am.” Syllabication is not fixed but 8-10 per line is the “right” meter; often 10-8-10-8. Tight inner rhyme is often involved but only the AC and DB lines must rhyme to fit the definition.

The original; written 01.05.95.

where i am
where i am is in a tub of jam
and i jam on a tuba too.
what i am is i am what i am
and i am in a tub of goo.

Though this is a form, it has a lot of leeway. The A and C leads of “where” and “what” may be reversed. The clauses may be different—if still 3 syllables—and remain easily recognizable as the form. Eg, “where she was,” “what she was.”

where she was
where she was was inside the buzz
about downsizing the fleet.
what she was was she was what she does
and she staggers on clown sized feet.

Ashley wrote the first and found the format a nice exercise. Todd Weissenberger and Orion got into the format and wrote several each. A great many are floating around out there. Some are still to come no doubt. It would be nice to collect them and put together a best-of.