Fibonacci Poetry

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Yes, you can mix math and poetry.

The Fibonacci sequence and poetry might not seem like a natural combination, but the mix of the two can be quite interesting and fun. This lens will explore how the two merge, as well as discuss my own experiences with Fibonacci poetry. Plus, I'll toss in a quick "how-to" lesson for those who might be inspired to create their own poetry.

For starters, the Fibonacci sequence.... 

Leonardo of Pisa, also known as Leonardo Fibonacci, was an Italian mathematician whose name graces the series of numbers called the Fibonacci sequence. And what is that?

Basically, every number in a Fibonacci sequence is the sum of the two numbers before it. So, if you begin your sequence 0, 1, then the math and progression goes....

0+1 = 1 leading to a sequence of 0, 1, 1

1+1 = 2 leading to 0, 1, 1, 2

1+2 = 3 leading to 0, 1, 1, 2, 3

2+3 = 5 leading to 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5

This can continue infinitely. If you're fascinated by math, there's much more detailed information on the numbers and the sequence here, but in terms of Fibonacci poetry, this is more than enough to get you started.

Fibonacci, poetry and Fibonacci poetry 

A Fibonacci poem is a poem where the number of syllables in each line tracks the numbers in the Fibonacci sequence. So, the first line of the poem has 1 syllable (or 0 for a beat of silence, if you're a purist!), and then is followed by lines of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 syllables and onward as far as the poet wishes to go. The form is traditionally non-rhyming... but it can rhyme if you want it to.

Poets have written poems starting with higher Fibonacci number syllable lines and "counting backwards" to smaller syllable lines as well as writing up to a certain number of syllables and then reversing, creating a "stacked" poem.

Some people have used the Fibonacci numbers to count words instead of syllables. Others have used it to count sentences instead, though this quickly leads to novel length works. The key in all these forms is that the Fibonacci numbers work as a guideline to the form but not to the contents of the poetry itself.

I told a Fib, and soon lot of folks were Fibbing! 

On April 1, 2006, I put up a post on my blog suggesting that folks spread Fibs -- my name for 6 line, 20 syllable poems based on the Fibonacci sequence -- around the Web to celebrate National Poetry Month. By the end of April, more than 1,000 Fibs had been written in the comments of my blog alone, Fibs had hit the New York Times, and threads of Fibs were sprouting up all around. I write lots of different types of poetry, but I'll always have a sweet spot for Fibs... and I'm still writing them all the time.

A very quick "how-to" guide to Fibs 

It's as easy as 1, 1, 2, 3!

A Fib is 6 lines long and only has 20 syllables. Here's how the syllables per line look:

1
1
2
3
5
8

Here's an example of my own:

One
Small,
Precise,
Poetic,
Spiraling mixture:
Math plus poetry yields the Fib.

I try not to use words like "the" or "a" in the one syllable lines, and I mention some other guidelines in this post on my blog. I use Fibs as a "warm up" exercise for my writing day, and it really does help me focus on word choice and clarity (and brevity!). But whether you're writing Fibs or another type of Fibonacci poem or any poetry at all and for whatever reason, the most important thing is to write!

Feedback and Fibs 

Say hello or leave a Fib or two....

AndyPo wrote...

Very interesting. The Fibonacci Sequence seems to appear in many places: art, finance, maths, but I'd never seen it used for poetry before.

ReplyPosted June 30, 2009

Lensmaster

meeee wrote

here is the example from some real poetry:
1 I
1 am
2 sitting
3 quietly,
5 listening for the
8 quiet noises in the darkness,
13 ghostly images flying between the tall pine trees,
21 illusion created by the mind, made by shadows, the brain playing tricks on itself.
34 It sits there, the raven, black as night, looking at me with its dark eyes in the dark night. Inspiration comes.

Reply Posted June 06, 2009

LiFiwithWiFi wrote...

my
wife
yes dear
I'm right here
Just where you left me
So why won't you leave me alone!

ReplyPosted April 26, 2009

Lensmaster

MusePie - the Fib Review wrote

The Fib Review - an online journal devoted solely to Fibonacci poetry and literary works is now accepting submissions for its fourth edition. The view the Fib Review, visit http://www.musepiepress.com/fibreview/intro.html. Instructions for submissions are on the website, or submit your poetry to the editor at Musepiepress@aol.com.

the fib review

the
fib
review
a website
for Fibonacci
numeric syllabic poems

fibs
fly
rain down
from the thoughts
of creative minds
who think in numeric sequence
verses one, one, two, three, five, eight

Reply Posted April 25, 2009

Lensmaster

Argelius wrote

Whoops
Trig
Levi
Trailer trash
Teaching abstinence... Read More
Chromosomes dangerously shared

Reply Posted April 07, 2009

SimeyC wrote...

What an intriguing idea - as an amateur poet I find it hard to write free verse, let alone poems that are confined to rules! Good job!

ReplyPosted April 01, 2009

Lensmaster

trhbtrghthyhynjjntjnty wrote

jmnhjgmhkjmutjtujujutjtuhjtyhytnhhtyhntyntyyhnt

Reply Posted January 25, 2009

Lensmaster

Ntrigue wrote

truth
is,
i can
not tell a
lie unless of course
it is just a little white fib

Reply Posted October 08, 2008

Lensmaster

Triiiiiina wrote

God,
all!
It's a fib,
version A.
Edit idea...
No! Is rev B, if still a dog.

IF YOU READ IT BACKWARDS ITS THE SAME POEM.

Reply Posted October 07, 2008

Lensmaster

Triiiiiina wrote

God,
all!
It's a fib,
version A.
Edit idea...
No! Is rev B, if still a dog.

IF YOU READ IT BACKWARDS ITS THE SAME POEM.

Reply Posted October 07, 2008

 
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A few Fib spots on the web.... 

Want to submit some Fibs for possible publication? Want to read good/funny Fibs? Here are a few places to look....
the fib review
A journal devoted solely to Fibonacci poetry with submissions accepted year round.
The Style Invitational Fib contest results
The Washington Post's Style Invitational used Fibs as part of a weekly contest. This link has the very funny, smart results.
Fibs on Slashdot
Wonderful Fibs and other math-y poetry in the comments here...
Fibs all around....
This takes you to a post on my blog where I collected links to various places folks were writing Fibs online. Also, if you look along the right hand side of the blog, there are links to lots of other Fib related stuff on the right hand side.
Syllable Counter
If you're writing Fibs (or Haiku or any other syllable specific form), this online syllable counter does a mighty fine job of telling you if you've done a mighty fine job!