The first day of December is here and it is raining, raining, raining. We’ve gone months without rain, so I guess it’s catch up time to meet our rainfall for the year. But I’m not happy about it.
Back in October I learned a new poem form, the luc bat, Vietnamese for six-eight. Wendy Everard posted a prompt on Ethical ELA. The form is quite easy in that each line alternates between 6 and 8 syllables. It’s free with no limit on the number of lines. However, there’s this twist of rhyme. The last syllable of the line of 6 becomes the rhyme for the 6th syllable in the line of 8. Then the word at the end of 8 becomes the next rhyme for 6:
xxxxxA
xxxxxAxB
xxxxxB
xxxxxBxC
Molly Hogan challenged the Inklings to write a luc bat for our December challenge. I’ve written a few of them now and I love how the internal rhyming is both challenging and satisfying.
I wrote a short luc bat for this week’s This Photo Wants to be a Poem. I also tried the form on a previous Photo post here: Ancient Door.
Today I am posting the poem I wrote in response to Wendy’s prompt. I used one of her lines to get started. This poem reflects on the process my husband and I went through during my illness this past summer. We’ve made it through and are stronger together for our resilience. “In sickness” is one of the hard places in a marriage.
When leaving words unsaid,
Margaret Simon, with a line by Wendy Everard
our shared trauma wed and silent,
fears become resilient.
Illness causes consistent stress,
silence under duress.
Feelings close off, repress our love.
Searching within, whereof
words we can speak with love to heal.
Find our way back to real and us.
If you want to read more amazing responses to this form, here are the links to my Inkling friends.
Linda Mitchell
Molly Hogan
Heidi Mordhorst
MaryLee Hahn
Catherine Flynn
Reflections on the Teche 
What a fun find in my in box today. Love this idea of a poem structure but think I will stick to my watercolors today. Thanks for sharing this on Poetry Friday.
A beautiful testimony, Margaret, written in a form that to me is like a puzzle. Thank you.
I’m intrigued to try this form, Margaret. Thank you for sharing it and for your beautiful poem that speaks to the power of love.
Margaret, thank you for sharing your heartfelt poem in the challenging Luc Bat form. Beautiful and inspiring.
Margaret, this poem seems to capture so much of your struggle. I am glad you are finding your way back to “real and us.”
Margaret, this captures so much truth about times of extreme stress in a marriage. And I’m so glad you’re doing better. It’s a joy to see you and your grands in photos on social! ❤
It’s hard to read this remembering how much you were struggling…I never thought about your spouse. It is so hard to be a spouse watching your beloved struggle. The healing power of hope is perfectly nestled in this.
It’s not something we think about when we are young and healthy. My husband entered the depths with me and was a true hero to me. I am blessed and I know it.
Your poem and this line from your post ““In sickness” is one of the hard places in a marriage” really say it all. The use of “wed” in your luc bat is pretty brilliant.I’m thankful that you shared this poem, with its powerful emotional punch, and above all, that you’re healthy again and that you and your spouse have weathered that storm. I so appreciate how you turn to writing to make sense of your sorrows and struggles–and your joys as well.
This writing was hard because I did it a while ago and on my revisit “thinking I had the luc bat in the bag” found I had to dig deeper to make it work. I think the dig was worth it, but I hope others don’t feel like I am wallowing. Thanks for your support always.
Margaret, you worked this form over and got comfortable with it–or maybe I should say comfortable with its discomfort. And yet you call it a pretty easy form! I didn’t find it so. I agree with Molly about the use of “wed” here and the reference to the vow we make. I love “searching within, whereof” and the rhyme with love. Very glad you’ve come through to the other side, and may it last, all of it!
I lied about the ease of it. Having the form to use pushed me to work with what I wanted the thing to say. We are good. We’ve come through and that’s what true love is about. Thanks for “seeing me” through the words.
There’s so much to love about this post and poem. Like others, I was struck your observation of the trickiness of the “in sickness” part of marriage, especially since AJ and I just COVIDed together. And your use of “wed.” So perfect. I’m thankful that you’ve made it through “to real and us.” And for the generosity of your vulnerability. Your heart speaks directly to ours.
Thanks. Illness is a test that we don’t always handle well. I hope you and AJ are feeling better.
Being thrown into a sudden trauma makes one realize even more the love that’s there, that’s so needed. This is beautifully introspective, Margaret. Each part shows the complexity of a marriage, yes, and the ending just blooms, at least to me, “to real and us”.
“Find our way back to real” — I love this line, Margaret!!!
So powerful! The sickness part is so tough. Thank you for capturing it in words.
Thank you for sharing this poetic snapshot of healing and commitment, Margaret.
Lovely Margaret, I like the circularity in your poem, the stress, duress, and “Find our way back to real and us.” Thanks!