Elfje: Then and Now

Then
I was
a soul, desperately
seeking a body to
inhabit

Now
I am
a shell mourning
its emptiness; my lost
soul

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Playing with the Elfje form (11 words spread over 5 lines in a 1-2-3-4-1 pattern) after quite a long time.

Also, 100th post!!! 

This elfje has also been put up at Simply Elfje. 

Elfje: Memento Mori

Memories
Dance like
Pretty butterflies, fleeting,
Just out of reach -
Tantalizing

Treasured
Photographic memories
Reduced to graffiti
Etched by impetuous light -
Meaningless

Reality
Now fragmented;
Well-defined lines
Between fact and fiction
Blurred

Soul
Lost in
The labyrinth of
Tangled impressions, intangible expressions -
Chaotic

Wandering
Down the memory lane
Encroached by dementia
Bold steps
Falter

Time
Spares none:
A black hole
Vacuum-pulling all into
Oblivion

 

---

Written during the English Versification competition of the sub-district Youth Festival for the theme "Down the Memory Lane." My grandfather turned out to be the source of inspiration yet again, so you might recognize a few lines from my poem Moirae, which I "borrowed" when I couldn't come up with anything more suitable. All stanzas are in Elfje form, except for the penultimate one which is an inverted Elfje (1-4-3-2-1)

EDIT 22-11-12: I won the second place for the poem! :)

Elfje: Phoenix

Black
Pyre ablaze
With flames of
Terror and hatred, spewing
Poison

Grey
Ashes smoulder
With passionate defiance
Birthing voice of dissent -
Hope

White
Veils ignite
Sparks of freedom,
Forgotten symphonies of rebellion
Amplified

---

For Malala Yousufzai, who showed me that "kids" can make an impact on the society as well. My sister, I salute your courage, your resilience, your spunk to stand up against the Taliban and assert your right to education. I hope you rise and shine again, and continue to inspire lives.

This Elfje has been published at Simply Elfje.

Elfje: Inspiration Lost

Words
Struck down
In inky battlegrounds -
Frantic searches for flighty
Muse

---

My first attempt at an Elfje, a form which originated in The Netherlands. The word Elfje means ‘Elven’ or ‘Fairy’ poem (from ‘Elf’ meaning ‘elven’ or ’fairy’ and the suffix ‘-je’ meaning ‘little’). The form consists of 11 words spread over 5 lines in the form 1-2-3-4-1.

This poem has also been put up at Simply Elfje.