I have become enamored of the duplex poetry form, a modern take on a ghazal + sonnet + blues poem invented by Jericho Brown, the Pulitzer Prize Poetry Winner for 2020. I’ve read the description in this article over and over, and every time I see something new. In other words, it’s complicated.
Here are the boundaries:
Write a ghazal that is also a sonnet that is also a blues poem of 14 lines, giving each line 9 to 11 syllables.
The first line is echoed in the last line.
The second line of the poem should change our impression of the first line in an unexpected way.
The second line is echoed and becomes the third line.
The fourth line of the poem should change our impression of the third line in an unexpected way.
This continues until the penultimate line becomes the first line of the couplet that leads to the final (and first) line.
For the variations of repeated lines, it is useful to think of the a a’ b scheme of the blues form.
Jericho Brown
I decided to challenge my writing group, The Sunday Night Swaggers, with the form. Challenges help to get us moving. (I hope my partners aren’t throwing eggs at this blog post.) I enjoyed this process. The repetition with the permission to vary it led to new discoveries.
To see more duplex poems from our group:
Catherine at Reading to the Core
Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone
Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe
Linda at A Word Edgewise
Reflections on the Teche 
This duplex is amazing, Margaret – so sensory and quivering with wonder and also longing, I think. I so admire Jericho Brown – an inspiration, indeed.
Beautiful poem, Margaret! This is a complicated form but you nailed it with the images you created. I read it several times, always finding something new. Thanks for sharing.
I really love how this one plays on the double meanings of so many words, Margaret, concrete and abstract, and also how you layer the high tech theme with the pure natural one. It is so timely and heart-catching, over and over.
Good job, gorgeous and intriguing, brava! What a form to wrestle with, I also like the contrast of nature and technology—I’m also taken by the opposites of Jericho Brown’s form. Thanks for the link to the form!
Your poem is fabulous, Margaret. The duplex form is intimidating but your resulting poem is inspiring: “Activate mute speaks louder than words” – indeed! 🙂
There is something captivating about the way repetition/echoing works in this form. It generates such a sense of longing. Then you add to that with the hand reaching out, the covered mouth and the lightest memorable touch of butterfly wings. Well done!
Beautiful, Margaret, and heart-breaking both. ❤️
[…] Molly Hogan at Nix the Comfort ZoneLinda Mitchell at A Word EdgewiseHeidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little UniverseMargaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche […]
The progression of the child cocooning into herself and then unfolding into her beauty is a strong image in this poem…the butterfly analogy is perfect. My favorite line is, “her hand may reach out to touch you.”
It’s hard to read your poem without thinking of my younger granddaughter, Margaret. She is struggling mightily with the zoom school, wanting so much to reach out & touch her teacher(s) & classmates. You’ve shown that dilemma to me so poignantly in this strange world we are living in. What a big challenge you’ve accomplished in this duplex form.
This is beautifully rendered, Margaret. Children behind screens learning virtually is somewhat daunting for many children who need the strong support of a
F2F teacher. Your poem captures the development of a child in the virtual learning process.
That is a lovely poem! I love the slow transition from butterfly to mute button to the touch of a hand. Wow! I might try one of those one day! Thanks for sharing your poem and this strange and wonderful form.
Such a lovely take on virtual teaching! My colleagues and I have talked about the camera use of our middle schoolers. Some teachers insist on a camera-on policy. I encourage the camera, but I don’t require it, after reading and hearing about how much some kids hate having that eye on them. There’s a similar issue with the mute button. Some of my kids don’t want to be heard at all, and others can’t stop unmuting themselves to comment on everything!
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
It’s a constant struggle. We’ve tried using the chat button but there’s such a long wait time for them to type. Nothing is ideal but we’re doing the best we can.
Bravo! I find this form quite daunting, so I am in awe of you for not only trying it, but succeeding! Thanks for this. I will read and reread the rules, but I fear this is far down the road for me.
There’s so much truth about remote teaching in your poem. I agree that “Nothing is ideal but we’re doing the best we can.”
So beautiful, the images are gorgeous.
Wow, beautifully written and heartfelt. I can clearly see your images and especially love the last image and lines “her hand may reach out to touch you/ like a mother’s touch in butterfly wings.” Your poem is powerful and has perfectly captured the difficulty of virtual teaching. You have definitely mastered this challenging form. Thank you for what must be a personal poem for you.
[…] The Duplex of Virtual Teaching. […]