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The Fibonacci "Fib" Poem:                        A New Poetic Form.

5/22/2016

3 Comments

 
Form poetry can be a great tool for prompts. With our focus on so many classical forms sometimes we forget that newer forms of poetry can be fun too!

A Fibonacci poem is a newer poetic form that bases itself off of the mathematical Fibonacci sequence.
In mathematics the Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where a number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. Starting with 0 and 1, the sequence goes 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and so forth. Written as a rule, the expression is xn = xn-1 + xn-2.
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In poetry, the sequence translates to syllable count.

The typical fib is a six line, 20 syllable poem with a syllable count by line of 1/1/2/3/5/8 - with as many syllables per line as the line's corresponding place in the Fibonacci sequence.

An example of a typical fib:

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

      — Pincus, Gregory

 
However, some Fibonacci poets try to challenge themselves to make the poems go longer than 6 lines.

The Fibonacci poem, like the mathematical concept it's based on, is named for Leonardo Pisano (1170 - 1250), the Italian mathematician also known as Fibonacci . The poetry form , although recently resurfaced, in all likelihood probably goes back much earlier than Fibonacci himself as  Fibonacci is said to have found instances of his sequence used in Sanskrit poetry of the 12th century.

Gregory K. Pincus coined the term Fib in his blog , to refer to a six-line, twenty syllable version of the form. Pincus then challenged his readers to attempt the form, sparking interest in the Fib, a mention on Slashdot , and a great number of examples proliferating online as a result.

One of the most interesting things about the Fib poem is it becomes one of the useful tools for lovers of both poetry and mathematics to come together as the two disciplines are often thought to be far apart.

Test out your skills at a Fib!

If you are interested in more poetry prompts...

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3 Comments
eileen hession
6/6/2016 03:51:58 am

Triolet? I believe you were going to ask for triolets? when? where to send?

Reply
maryannniemczura link
7/10/2016 07:35:19 am

What a neat poetry form with the numbers and six lines. Fib is an interesting form. My book is a poetic memoir. Thanks for a lovely visit.

Reply
Ed Ward
11/9/2024 07:06:39 am

It is well known that the patterns of plants, vegetables, trees, etc. correspond to the patterns of the Fibonacci sequence… It is interesting to note that in the poem “Genesis from the Spirit” by Polish poet Juliusz Słowacki [1809-1849] he says:
"Mathematical thought itself seems to have developed in plants (Myśl, zda się, sama matematyczna rozwijała się w roślinach)"
and
"Each tree is a great solution to a mathematical problem, a mystery of number(s) (Każde drzewo jest wielkim rozwiązaniem matematycznego zadania, tajemnicą liczby)"
Regards
Ed

Reply



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