Ephemeral Whispers
Fairylike
Mayflies shimmer,
Soaring skywards shining
Enchanting me with whispering
Ephemerality
Lesley Scoble, September 2024
I wrote my first ever elfje poem, Ephemeral Whispers, for this week’s W3 Poetry Prompt #125. For which, Sarah Whiley is the Poet of the Week. You can read her winning poem, Befall, here.
The Poetry Prompt
Sarah’s prompt was to write an Elfje poem on the theme: Soar.
An Elfje is a short, structured poem originating from the Netherlands. The word “Elfje” means “little elf” in Dutch. An Elfje comprises five lines with 11 words. Each line has a specific word count:
Click here to read the full prompt guidelines
Elfje?
The word Elfje means ‘Elven’ or ‘Fairy’ poem (from ‘Elf’ meaning ‘elven’ or ‘fairy’ and the sufix ‘-je’ meaning ‘little’). The form consists of 11 words spread over 5 lines.
- Line 1: One word.
o This word symbolizes a color or feature. The word symbolizes the atmosphere.
- Line 2: Two words.
o These are something or someone with this color or feature.
- Line 3: Three words.
o Giving more information about the person or the object. You describe where the person or the object is, who the person or what the object is, or what the person or object is doing. This sentence usually starts with the word ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘it.’
- Line 4: Four words.
o Here you are writing something about yourself in relation to the person or the object. This sentence is your conclusion.
- Line 5: One word.
o This word is called the ‘Bomb.’ It is the essence of the poem.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thank you, Sarah, for introducing me to the elfje poetry form with your magical prompt.
My gratitude, as always, to David, The Skeptics Kaddish, for your inspiration and encouragement.
Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. She is an accomplished artist, actor, and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture winning the V&A Inspired by…Award). Lesley is also a scenic artist, book illustrator, playwright, TV dancer, mime artist. Animator & illustrator for TV. She founded Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd, producing award-winning films made by children drama and filmmaking workshops in London.
LesleyScoble.com 
Leave a comment