This month’s Poetry Sisters challenge was to write a poem form called a raccontino, a poem of any number of couplets in which the odd-numbered lines (along with the title) tell a story. Even-numbered lines rhyme. This was a totally new form to me, so I looked for inspiration in an obituary, of all things. I liked how the woman was described as leaving a legacy of kindness. Who among us would not want to leave that kind of legacy?
She Leaves laughter and abiding love, a generous spirit echoing silly songs.
Her family holds her legacy. When every heart longs
to be of some use, of a place she belongs,
there is only kindness that lasts, healing all wrongs.
Yes, and amen. What a neat form…and what a beautiful rendering of a story from an obituary. You give me all kinds of ideas. I think I’m going to go looking at some obituaries today. There is a fun instagram feed that has funny ones…I may look at those too. I appreciate your kindness. When I think of you, I think of your kindness.
Well done, Margaret! I enjoy seeing how the titles go with the first word and the last word of the first line. “Abiding” is a perfect word for the legacy of love. xo
You’ve inspired me to write a raccontino. I’ll post it on my blog the last day of June. Thank you for always being an inspiration to me! I’m holding you in my thoughts and prayers, thinking of you so much these days.
Margaret, your unique way of finding the right thought for your raccontino is marvelous. It gives me another thought to ponder. Leaving a legacy of kindness proves that being kind matters in our lifetimes and spills over as a reminder to all. I have noticed how flow matters so much in this poetic format. You showed that through your words.
My goodness, that is lovely. First, I want to BE this kind of woman who leaves this abiding legacy, but I also want to step into your ability to creatively mine an obituary for end words that are both brief enough and impactful enough to create a truly solid poem your first time out with a new form!!! Kudos on that!!!
Thanks so much for coming out to play this Poetry Friday!
[…] of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She recently posted that the Poetry Sisters had written Raccontino poems, which are couplets of any number where the even-numbered lines end on the same rhyme and the title […]
Margaret, you wrote a beautiful and poignant poem. You also make this new poetry form look easy to write, when I not it isn’t easy to write. I love the poem and the story: She leaves a legacy of kindness. I like how your words “abiding” and “echoing” in the first two lines make a connection of enduring and echoing is below abiding. You make this difficult form look easy when I know it’s not easy. It all flows so beautifully and meaningfully.
It took me awhile to notice the rhyming words in the even numbered lines because I was so caught up in your flow. I also noticed you have a lot of rhyme in the middle of your lines. In fact, you have the long e sound rhyme in almost every line, staring in the title. I admire how you always find the heart of the poem you are writing in so few of words. I wish I could do that so consistently. I also love the power of those last two lines. Well done. Thank you for sharing this new form and your inspiration.
Margaret Simon lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. She teaches gifted elementary students, writes poetry and children's books. Welcome to a space of peace, poetry, and personal reflection. Walk in kindness.
Reflections on the Teche 
Yes, and amen. What a neat form…and what a beautiful rendering of a story from an obituary. You give me all kinds of ideas. I think I’m going to go looking at some obituaries today. There is a fun instagram feed that has funny ones…I may look at those too. I appreciate your kindness. When I think of you, I think of your kindness.
Well done, Margaret! I enjoy seeing how the titles go with the first word and the last word of the first line. “Abiding” is a perfect word for the legacy of love. xo
You’ve inspired me to write a raccontino. I’ll post it on my blog the last day of June. Thank you for always being an inspiration to me! I’m holding you in my thoughts and prayers, thinking of you so much these days.
Thanks for teaching me a new form, Margaret. “there is only kindness that lasts” – something we can all strive for.
Beautiful, Margaret. I’ve not heard of this form, either. I like it. Thanks for sharing.
Margaret, your unique way of finding the right thought for your raccontino is marvelous. It gives me another thought to ponder. Leaving a legacy of kindness proves that being kind matters in our lifetimes and spills over as a reminder to all. I have noticed how flow matters so much in this poetic format. You showed that through your words.
<i>there is only kindness/
that lasts…</i>
My goodness, that is lovely. First, I want to BE this kind of woman who leaves this abiding legacy, but I also want to step into your ability to creatively mine an obituary for end words that are both brief enough and impactful enough to create a truly solid poem your first time out with a new form!!! Kudos on that!!!
Thanks so much for coming out to play this Poetry Friday!
The power of “kindnessthat lasts, healing all wrongs.” Could we change the world with that—Beautiful, thanks Margaret!
Margaret, the obituary is such a great resource for poetry! Great idea! And I love the message you found in this one.
Lovely…and all the more so because it came straight from your heart. We can all aspire to leaving a legacy of kindness. You are well on your way!
Oh, Margaret, how lovely — both the family’s words for this kind woman, and your poetic rendering of her legacy.
[…] of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She recently posted that the Poetry Sisters had written Raccontino poems, which are couplets of any number where the even-numbered lines end on the same rhyme and the title […]
Margaret, you wrote a beautiful and poignant poem. You also make this new poetry form look easy to write, when I not it isn’t easy to write. I love the poem and the story: She leaves a legacy of kindness. I like how your words “abiding” and “echoing” in the first two lines make a connection of enduring and echoing is below abiding. You make this difficult form look easy when I know it’s not easy. It all flows so beautifully and meaningfully.
It took me awhile to notice the rhyming words in the even numbered lines because I was so caught up in your flow. I also noticed you have a lot of rhyme in the middle of your lines. In fact, you have the long e sound rhyme in almost every line, staring in the title. I admire how you always find the heart of the poem you are writing in so few of words. I wish I could do that so consistently. I also love the power of those last two lines. Well done. Thank you for sharing this new form and your inspiration.