Progressive

A progressive form is a constraint that systematically changes throughout the duration of the poem. Systematically means the progression is usually bound to a numeric sequence (see Number Poetry, Addition/Subtraction Poetry) or is Abecedarian.

A technique of steadily increasing the number of letters or syllables per word or line, or the number of words per line, is known by the Oulipo as a Snowball. A steady decrease in the same would be a Melting Snowball. A poem that demonstrates a steady increase followed by an equally steady decrease is sometimes known as a Diamond Poem, because of the shape it makes when centered on the page. Traditionally, a poem in which the number of syllables per word increases steadily on every line is known as Rhopalic Verse.

Source

Dominique Fitzpatrick-O'Dinn

Examples

Alphabetic Africa, by Walter Abish

Works that use this form

• A Kite
• Analyzing Haze
• Before
• But
• Newspoem 17 March 1999: Oh! John Don’t Go to Kosovo
• Newspoem 18 January 2001: Czech TV (for Simon Kos)
• Newspoem 5 April 2000: Patrick Dorismond RIP, NYPD
• Poetry Class
• Poetry Reading
• Student Talks to Janitor
• Will My Data Spy On Me

forms are free

> Table of Forms Book
> Table of Forms Table > All Forms
> > > www.webworkwriting.com