by Ashley Lister

Our lives are complex as a Rubik’s cube

I give advice to prove I’m not a rube

And say, “Please don’t use chilli sauce as lube.”

It’s true I do not have a lot of class

With words of wisdom, I don’t have a mass

But I don’t stick spicy sauce up my ass.

Let me beat my message loud, with a drum

Let me warn you the results are not fun

Let me say: keep spices out of your rectum.

The poetic form of the Urdu masnavi were originally religious
in content.  Additionally, they were written
in couplets.  Over the years the form of
the masnavi has been appropriated and modified until we’re left with today’s
form: the muzdawidj.

As you will have noted from the example above, the muzdawidj
uses triplets (a a a / b b b / c c c…) 

We’ve known each other for a while,

I’d give so much to make you smile.

So, shall we do it doggy-style?

I think true love should know no bounds

I want to hear those special sounds

You make when we’re like rutting hounds.

They tell me that true love is blind.

I love your body and your mind.

Get on all fours. I’ll go behind

The muzdawidj is a straightforward poetic form that works
best (like most rhyming forms) when each line has a similar metrical
value.  As a writing exercise to start
your creative juices flowing before you get down to your daily writing routine,
the muzdawidj is accessible, easy to remember, and surprisingly
challenging.  I look forward to reading
your poems in the comments box below.