PaintedDiary

A Tetractys, is a poetic form invented by Ray Stebbing which consists of at least 5 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 syllables (total of 20).

A Tetractys poem can also be written with more than one verse, but must follow suit with an inverted syllable count.

A Single Tetractys can also be reversed, with still having 5 lines, however, with a reversed syllable count of 10, 4, 3, 2, 1.

A Double Tetractys: has 10 lines with the syllable count of 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1.

A Triple Tetractys has 15 lines and syllables 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10.

and so on.

"Euclid, the mathematician of classical times, considered the number series 1, 2, 3, 4 to have mystical significance because its sum is 10, so he dignified it with a name of its own - Tetractys.

The Tetractys could be Britain's answer to the haiku. Its challenge is to express a complete thought, profound or comic, witty or wise, within the narrow compass of twenty syllables." - Ray Stebbing


Example Tetractys Poem:

freedom

free
from you
your ego
your blaming me
i am a free spirit who has no past

Copyright © 2001 Terri Anthony