Addicted to Nonets

I got addicted to nonets, people! They bring out so much creativity, and there is so much flexibility in those rigid rules. I know, a paradox in itself, but still cathartic. I never thought I would dream of writing them and then wake up in the morning, make my coffee, unbothered that my youngest woke up again at 8:00 on a Sunday (that's better than 5am, so I am grateful for it).

Keep writing and keep sharing your soul into the puzzle pieces of a nonet.

If you are not familiar with it (how could you not be, though?), a nonet is a nine-line poem. It starts "with nine syllables in the first line and decreases by one syllable per line, ending with a single syllable in the final line. This form allows for a gradual narrowing of focus that packs a punch." (See the Breakup-Nonet Challenge on Vocal Media).

I thought about what makes it so addictive and healing at the same time.

Well, a nonet already starts with the magical number 9. Spiritually, the number nine is often seen as a symbol of completion and enlightenment. It is believed to be the end of a cycle, as the highest single-digit number. So I thought this is where the healing starts!

In various spiritual traditions, nine means wisdom, spiritual awakening, and even reaching a higher consciousness. So there you go, nine is a powerful and mystical number that signifies the fulfillment of one's soul journey. It does make sense now, doesn't it?

I thought of looking for some quotes on Goodreads about number nine, but there weren't too many. Puzzling. I kept digging for gems, nevertheless.

“Like the number nine eternity is forever mine”

― Kenneth G. Ortiz

Ok here you go, this one makes more sense, but it gave me the creeps.

“Nine is the mythical number of the Germanic tribes. Documentation for the significance of the number nine is found in both myth and cult. In Odin's self-sacrifice he hung for nine nights on the windy tree (Hávamál), there are nine worlds to Nifhel (Vafprudnismal 43), Heimdallr was born to nine mothers, Freyr had to wait for nine nights for his marriage to Gerd (Skírnismál 41), and eight nights (= nine days?) was the time of betrothal given also in the Þrymskviða. Literary embellishments in the Eddas similarly used the number nine: Skaði and Njörðr lived alternately for nine days in Nóatún and in Þrymheimr; every ninth night eight equally heavy rings drip from the ring Draupnir; Menglöð has nine maidens serve her (Fjölsvinnsmál 35ff), and Ægir had as many daughters. Thor can take nine steps at Ragnarök after his battle with the Midgard serpent before he falls down dead. Sacrificial feasts lasting nine days are mentioned for both Uppsala and Lejre and at these supposedly nine victims were sacrificed each day.”

― Rudolf Simek, A Dictionary of Northern Mythology

All in all, nine in nonet poetry has a special effect, both on the mind and the soul, both on the writer and the reader. This mix of packing up tightly an idea and delivering it in an organized way, again and again.

I read other's nonets and I am in awe of the human creativity and flow.

For example, these are the latest I read and I completely loved. This is not to say there aren't others, but just giving a few mentions. I might keep adding here more of my favorites as I read them.

This cleaning of the soul version stuck with me! Andrew C Mc Donald

You had me at adhesives in the below nonet. wow Kale Bova

A very nasty and visceral one, a must-read by Oneg in the Arctic

A deeply inner bleeding, but perhaps also physical through Angela Hepworth's poetry

There are so many more I liked, I would include them all if I could... Check them in the Breakup-nonet challenge and comment your heart out. All poets deserve your love. I also submitted 8 entries so far, but I am addicted so I will keep writing until the deadline.