LesleyScoble.com

I wrote Briefly Lit in response to Melissa Lemay’s Tanka Tuesday #48 Syllabic Poetry Prompt. It was inspired by Marianne Moore and shaped by my understanding of the architectural way she builds a poem. That approach guided how I constructed this piece. Melissa’s prompt invited us to write using Moore’s syllabic forms or to create our own — a challenge I couldn’t resist. I hope Moore’s influence is recognisable in the poem.

I wanted to follow her example of finding meaning in the ordinary — by letting a simple walk down a dim corridor, doing a mundane chore, open into something a little reflective, a little strange, and atmospheric. Her attention to small details helped guide me as I shaped this piece. I had a lot of fun trying to achieve it, anyway. And hey—welcome to my brand new ‘Corridor Poetry Form’!

The required syllable pattern is:

1. 1 syllable
2. 6 syllables
3. 6 syllables
4. 3 syllables
5. 1 syllable
6. 6 syllables
7. 6 syllables

An optional 9 syllable refrain may be added anywhere in the stanza.

Briefly Lit

I
walk along in the dark
my footsteps click and clack
on the tiles—
and
there is a faint whisper
from the stark ceiling light

It
lights up on my approach
I am in a spotlight
should I dance
or
shall I sing — or stand still?
turn around and go back

I
move on along the long
passageway in the dark
to the next
light
which waits till I am near
then flickers a bright stare

with a barely discernible hiss

It
blinks out as I move on
my footsteps click and clack
in the dark
and
I walk along the way
carrying the waste bag

‘til
I reach the rubbish chute
ready to dispose it
down the shaft
and
with that barely discernible hiss
the last light behind me 
blinks boldly and fades out

next
the chute another light
wakes — I open the hatch
the bag slides
down
down the dark metal throat
into unknown regions
where only the unwanted belong


—Lesley Scoble, January 2026

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iPhone Film — Briefly Lit

I’ve created a short film on my iPhone, and I’d love you to watch it on YouTube.

Lyrics, film, and sound production ©️ Lesley Scoble (voice AI‑generated)

New syllabic poetry form?

Inspired by the Tanka Tuesday Syllabic Poetry Prompt, do I have the nerve to suggest that I’ve developed a new structured poetic form: the Corridor‽ 🤭
Details below.

The Corridor Form in detail

The Corridor Form is a contemporary syllabic verse structure characterised by its cinematic pacing, alternating line lengths, and optional atmospheric refrain. It is built around the sensation of movement through light and shadow, using short pivot lines and longer “stride” lines to create a rhythmic, breath‑based progression.

Structure
Each stanza of the Corridor Form consists of seven required lines, with an optional eighth line functioning as a refrain.

The required syllable pattern is:

1. 1 syllable
2. 6 syllables
3. 6 syllables
4. 3 syllables
5. 1 syllable
6. 6 syllables
7. 6 syllables

An optional 9 syllable refrain may be added anywhere in the stanza:

1. 9 syllables (refrain)

Function of Line Lengths
• 1‑syllable lines act as hinges or footsteps, creating pauses, cuts, or shifts in perspective.

• 6 syllable lines form the primary narrative stride, giving the stanza its forward motion.

• 3‑syllable lines introduce flickers of thought, hesitation, or illumination.

• 9‑syllable refrain lines expand the atmosphere, offering a hiss, echo, or thematic resonance that links stanzas.

Refrain
The 9‑syllable refrain may:

• repeat exactly across stanzas,
• recur with variation, or
• appear only in selected stanzas.

Its purpose is to create a sense of continuity, echo, or environmental presence.

Stanza Count
The form may be used for a single stanza or extended across multiple stanzas. When used in sequence, the stanzas often evoke movement through a space, emotional or physical.

Tone and Usage
The Corridor Form lends itself to:

• narrative poems,
• atmospheric or cinematic scenes,
• interior monologue,
• meditative or suspenseful sequences.

Its rhythm naturally evokes footsteps, flickering lights, and transitional spaces, though the subject matter is not restricted to literal corridors.

THANK YOU
Thank you, Melissa, for your amazing prompt. I’ve had a wonderful time studying the work of Marianne Moore and rising to the challenge of creating a new syllabic poetry form. I thank you from the heart.

My thanks also to Colleen Chesebro for her marvellous syllabic‑poetry platform, Tanka Tuesday.

And most of all, thank you, dear reader, for spending time with my poem. 🙏

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 48, Marianne Moore, 12/30/2025