Writing NONET and ETHEREE

by Mona Mehas

I love to experiment with poetic forms. When I stumble across forms that make a shape or count syllables, I’m in.

A nonet has nine lines. The first line has nine syllables, the second line eight syllables, the third line seven syllables and so on…until line nine finishes with one syllable. It can be on any subject and rhyming is optional.

Thus

line 1 = 9 syllables

line 2 = 8 syllables

line 3 = 7 syllables

line 4 = 6 syllables

line 5 = 5 syllables

line 6 = 4 syllables

line 7 = 3 syllables

line 8 = 2 syllables

line 9 = 1 syllable

A nonet needs a title. I’ve written one I’ll show a couple here. I post only work that is already published. Most journals, magazines, and anthologies want original work, not something they can find online. You can also write the nonet upside down. In this winning poem. I began with nine syllables and worked my way down to one. As you can see, nonets look pretty if centered on the page.

Tarantula

Stealth on eight legs, my spirit totem

larger than life protector, you

showed yourself behind my eyes

I count on your presence

you have taught me strength

your hairy legs

touch gently

my hand’s

web

Like a nonet but different is the etheree. An etheree has ten lines, going from one syllable to ten syllables, or ten to one. Again, the etheree needs a title and you can write them as doubles, triples, etc. Here is an example.

Nature’s Cycle

One

morning

filled with dew

grasshoppers climb

high up flower stems

rub their legs together

spread their wings, take to the air.

Grasshoppers don’t fly, they float down

oblivious to danger below.

A large mouth frog awaits them, opens wide.

Like a nonet, I sometimes combine two etheree to get my point across.

Line 1 – 10 syllables

then

10 – 1 syllable

Experiment and practice with these two forms of poetry. If you find you need another stanza, turn it upside down.

Enjoy!

Credits:

“Tarantula” took first place at Poetry Society of Indiana fall contest, 2023. Published in Ink to

Paper January 2024, and the author’s chapbook Self-Centered (Bottlecap Press) 2024.

“Nature’s Cycle”, Calling to Shore (Cicada Song Press) April 2025.