The Lantern Glows: A Terza Rima
Hope carried by a trembling glow.
Fragile glow, steadfast heart.
πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ
Darkness descends, and twilight gently falls
The shadows wide, a lantern's light's new frame
Brings solace to the walkers who stand tall.
πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ
My lantern's glow is steady, ever same
Its proud flame holds, its light grounds my feet,
My heart stills in the quiet, cobbled lane.
πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ
The lantern grows close, its glow my eyes meet
Its flame in the wind, quivering, almost blown;
But light still seen in its heart, its fragile seat.
πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ
Its fine glow now sits, and I walk it on,
My hands round the flame, and its graceful song.
πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ
Original poem by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental.
This poem is written in the Terza Rima Format, which usually has between 3-5 tercets (3-line stanzas). It ends with either a couplet, which I have used, or a single line that sums up the poem's essence.
It follows iamibic pantameter (10 syllables with a da-dum da-dum rhythm) and aba-bcb-cdc etc. rhyme scheme, depending on the number of tercets added.
For Vocal's Lantern Light challenge:
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (8)
Ooooh this one glows from the inside outβfragile but fierce. Loved the way it steadies the heart. π
Great job, Michelle. It's a beautiful poem, and you've done very well with the form. I've been trying to branch out with forms as well, but I fear that I haven't been as successful as you have. Well done.
I'm so jealous... I can't seem to nail the iambic pentameter in English, and you did it so effortlessly.
Beautiful take on the challenge, and I love this poetic form
I naturally paused when I got to lantern lights... Before reading 'new frame'. Second terset: 'The quiet cobbled lane'. Oh it's so buttery. Light as a feather. Soft words flowing down in meaning. This one I love very much. Because it's making my creative poetic eyes sparkle. This was the terza rima format. I am not very familiar. But wow Michelle. I am very impressed with this one. My absolute favourite of yours in the month of September. π€β€οΈ
You put a lot of thought into this and it shows
Such a beautifully crafted piece.
Very lovely Michelle, great, more forms to tempt Vocal. i never knew there were so many...oh my. Out of my comfort zone of free form I go.