The Lục bát is a traditional Vietnamese form meaning “six-eight.” I’m not sure how this works with the English language as the Vietnamese rely on what they call “tones.” Tones are variations of rising and falling sounds. (They have six tones.)
If you like to count, this one’s for you. You’re going to be counting up to six, up to eight, rhyming these, repeating. Loads of not fun.
What I have here is a loose Lục bát Vietnamese poem. To learn the form, head over to Robert Brewer’s description.
“Winter fire”
This was home of my bones.
These venerated tomes of ash—
parched kindlings, mocked and lashed
by hands that knew one slash
would shoal my literary soul.
My prized abode of scrolls lies seared
to the marrow, revered
poetic volumes speared by fire.
Should pardon be required
when reckoning inspires me more?
