Yes, you can mix math and 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
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!
A very quick "how-to" guide to Fibs
It's as easy as 1, 1, 2, 3!
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.
Posted June 30, 2009
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.
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!
Posted April 26, 2009
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
Posted April 25, 2009
Argelius wrote
Whoops
Trig
Levi
Trailer trash
Teaching abstinence... Read More
Chromosomes dangerously shared
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!
Posted April 01, 2009
trhbtrghthyhynjjntjnty wrote
jmnhjgmhkjmutjtujujutjtuhjtyhytnhhtyhntyntyyhnt
Posted January 25, 2009
Ntrigue wrote
truth
is,
i can
not tell a
lie unless of course
it is just a little white fib
Posted October 08, 2008
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.
Posted October 07, 2008
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.
Posted October 07, 2008
A few Fib spots on the web....
- 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!
