Poetry | Descort | Lost

Dysfunctional

Cor blimey, I am this poem

Unco-ordinated No rhythm Even less harmony Dis-com-bob-you-lay-ted-ness An inedible dog’s breakfast flung all over the metaphorical shop

How’s that for a double-whammy cliché?! parlant du français — translates to ‘speaking of French’ which we were and still are, if you would kindly hang around a bit longer coz this thing — let’s call it a poem — that you’re trying to read if I’d let you is known in literary circles ‘round The Globe (maybe not Shakespeare’s — just saying, but who really knows) as a Descort

That ‘D’ word — I must not repeat it – is old French for discord or discordant; one or the other, maybe both Either way, it has but ONE simple-as-pie rule ‘Each line must be unique’

That’s it in a nutshell Excuse me, who called me a nutter? I am this poem in that I’m in one hell of a dysfunctional mess Aren’t we all?

We’ve lost so much of what we foolishly took for granted Ta-ta former life It’s too late to go back so what’s the point, my darling? Our future is one of certain uncertainty Cor blimey Chin up! There, me dear hearties We’re resourceful human beings, get a grip We’ll find a path forward Covid can Go Take A Hike!!

It would be good if life were as fun as a limerick but it’s more like a riddle with the runs Oops, not sure I can say that Is alliteration allowed? Damn it! I did it again!

© Carolyn Hastings 2021

The thing about descort poetry is that each poem is entirely unique in its dysfunction! You can decide for yourself how much that reflects on the writer! 😆

You can’t teach dysfunction, so in that sense, you can’t teach descort poetry. The instructional process would influence the outcome, rendering it less unique — and not so discordant.

Sorry, you’re on your own! Haha!! 😜

The main thing to remember when writing a descort poem is that the literary devices most commonly associated with poetry (rhyme, meter, assonance, alliteration, refrain, repetition, syllable count, line length, stanza format, etc.) cannot be used.

It’s not pretty poetry but it’s fun. 😅

Why Am I Talking About Descort Poetry?

Somsubhra Banerjee and the rest of the editorial team at Literary Impulse are running an uncommon poetic forms poetry challenge until the end of August. Descort is one of the 15 poetic forms on offer. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The idea that a descort poem has ‘lost’ the features seen in other forms of poetry, ties in rather nicely with Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)’s poetry prompt: something you’ve lost.

Caroline de Braganza tagged me into this prompt with her hilarious poem, The Frustation of Losing Something Invisible to the Naked Eye. Please give it a read — here it is -

While I’m here (and not completely lost!), I would like to invite Lee Ameka | Sahil Patel | Jeff Langley | Katie Michaelson | Chloe Paulina Hawes to join Lucy’s and/or Somsubhra’s prompts. You can find the details here -

Thank you to Lucy, Caroline and Somsubhra for the prompts and tags. 🙏 💕

Thank you, Lucy for accepting this piece into The Brain is a Noodle. 🙏 💕

Thank you all for reading. 🙏 💕 ✨