How to Write a Tetractys

The tetractys, made famous by Pythagoras, was created into a modern-day poetic form by Ray Stebbings. A tetractys should express a complete thought, profound, witty or wise using 20 syllables. There is no limit to the number of verses. Rhyming is optional.

A tetractys' structure is:

Line 1 has 1 syllable
Line 2 has 2 syllables
Line 3 has 3 syllables
Line 4 has 4 syllables
Line 5 has 10 syllables

Here is an example:

It's
Better
To love than
To hate and it's
Better still to agree with what she says.

A double tetractys' can be written in two ways. Option one's structure is:

Line 1 has 1 syllable
Line 2 has 2 syllables
Line 3 has 3 syllables
Line 4 has 4 syllables
Line 5 has 10 syllables
Line 6 has 10 syllable
Line 7 has 4 syllables
Line 8 has 3 syllables
Line 9 has 2 syllables
Line 10 has 1 syllable

Here is an example by Ray Stebbings:

Campanile

Life
depends
on a strand
as frail as fine
as a migrating spider's silken line.
As windblown, random, as subject to chance,
our short days drift -
on thin threads
helpless
dance.

Alternatively, you can write your double tetractys in the following way:

Line 1 has 1 syllable
Line 2 has 2 syllables
Line 3 has 3 syllables
Line 4 has 4 syllables
Line 5 has 10 syllables
Line 6 has 1 syllable
Line 7 has 2 syllables
Line 8 has 3 syllables
Line 9 has 4 syllables
Line 10 has 10 syllables

Here is an example by Ray Stebbings:

Epitaph for Everyman

He lived a long life filled with good intent
but often found
his meanings
sadly
bent.
With misconceptions hapless lives are fraught,
what others hear
so seldom
matches
thought.

You can also try your hand at a reversed tetractys and its structure is:

Line 1 has 10 syllables
Line 2 has 4 syllables
Line 3 has 3 syllables
Line 4 has 2 syllables
Line 5 has 1 syllables

Here is an example:

How Ironic

Young, free and single, was quite hard to be,
If only we
Knew then what
We know
Now.

Once you've written your poem, why not send it to us - Forward Poetry, Remus House, Coltsfoot Drive, Peterborough PE2 9JX. Alternatively, you can upload your poem or email it to us inbox@forwardpoetry.co.uk.

Tel: 01733 890099 Fax: 01733 313524 Email: inbox@forwardpoetry.co.uk

Forward Poetry's ethos has always been to act as a bridge to publication rather than a barrier. This, along with our passion for poetry and creative writing, has seen a humble family business evolve into the biggest publisher of new poetry in the world. We understand that poetry is subjective, that everyone writes in a different style and that what one person can love, another can hate! Our collections showcase a variety of themes, writing styles and poets from all walks of life. They are carefully edited and compiled to celebrate and complement the craft that all of our contributors enjoy poetry.

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How to Write a Tetractys

Here is an example:

Campanile

Epitaph for Everyman

How Ironic

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