Sonnet Forms

(Last updated: April 21, 2018)

Listed here are All Sonnet forms that I have found that have been given names. They are segregated in separate indices as Standard or Gadget sonnets.   Sonnet forms listed here at last count = 179.

To jump to the specifications, poem example and template, click on sonnet name. Please use the contact form if you find errors or omissions that need correction. Sonnets marked like this were created by writers who are or have been on Allpoetry.

13 Line SonnetAny sonnet form which ends in couplet, wherein thepoet combines two lines into one with internal rhyme.Invented by Marcy Javis, writing as ea on Allpoetry.
AA Sonnet (12 Step Sonnet)abab cdcd efef ggStaircase internal rhyme
Acrostic Tribute SonnetAcrostic plus title yields message.
Acrostic Sonnet *TREATMENT rather than form
Alternating Sonnet abba/ccd/abba/ede or aab/cddc/ebe/cddcAlternate quatrains and tercets
Amanda’s Dark SonnetIt is a sonnet consisting of two seven line stanza’s.The first letters of each line form a two word acrostic, which must be alliterative.The rhyme scheme is as follows: aabbcca abbccdd
America Forte abab bbcc cdcd dd
American Libre abab bbcc cdcd ee
Arabian  Onegin Sonnet AaAa BBbb CdC DDd
Arabian Sonnetaaaa bbbb ccc ddd
Asean Royal Flush  Sonnetaaaaaaaa aaaaaa
Balanced SonnetStanzaic       Two septets  (7 line stanzas)Meter:         Iambic pentameterVolta          Not specified.Rhyme Scheme:  ababcbc ededfef
Bardic Sonnet English Sonnet with cross-rhyme and Consonant End-Rhyme.
Beginning of the Line Rhymed Sonnet aabbccddeeffgg
Betwixt Sonnet abba cbbc dbbd bb
Beymorlin Sonnetabab cdcd efef gg
Blank Verse SonnetNo rhyme; Strict Iambic Pentameter
Blues SonnetAAa BBb CCc DDd ee
Bowelsian Sonnet abba cddc effe gg
Brisbane Sonnetabcabc defdef gg
Bush Ballad Meter Sonnetababcdcdefefgg, syllabic 15/11, anpestic and iambic
Busta SonnettoA sonnet made up of two quintets (with envelope rhyme) and a quattrain, in any order.  Hundreds of possible rhyme schemes.
Byron’s Sonnetabba acca ded ede
Canadian Sonnet-Italian StructureUnique from the Bowlesian sonnet because it is presented as two quatrains + two tercets
Rhyme Scheme: abba cddc eff egg
Capped Sonnetxxxxxxxxxxxxaa
Caudate Sonnetabbaabbacdcdcd dee
Chained Sonnet Each line begins with the last word of the preceding line,
Channing’s Sonnetabbaabba cde cdeabbaacca dee dff, and others
Choi’s Sonnetabab bbcc cdcd dd
Chivalric Sonnetxaxa xbxb xcxc dd
Clare Sonnetaabbccddeeffgg
Cornish SonnetAbacbc Dedfef AD or abacbC dedfeF CF
Countess’ Grief 1It consists of three quatrains and a couplet, but the couplet itself does not rhyme. The Rhyme scheme is:  abba cddc eefg gf
Couplet Sonnetaa bb cc dd ee ff gg
Cross Sonnetaabb ccdd eeff gg or abab cdcd efef gg
Curtailed Quantrail3 quatrains + couplet, 8886/8886/8886/88
Rhymed:  aa(bb)c dd(ee)c ff(gg)h ii
Created by Marcy Jarvis, aka ea on Allpoetry.com
Curtailed Sonnetabcabc defde  or  abcabc dbcdc
Cyhydedd Fer Sonnetaabbccddeeffgg
Deplorable SonnetaaaB cccB dd eeeB
Divino Sonnetaabb dccd eff egg
DoggonnetThey rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef ggAll lines are six syllables.Two of the quatrains MUST be iambic trimeter.The other quatrain MUST be trochaic trimeter.The couplet may be either meter
Dorn Sonnetabcabc ee aeaeae or abcabc dd efefef
Double  SonnetAny standard sonnet doubled in one of three ways,
Double Trouble SonnetFront and end-rhyme:
(a/b)(a/b)(c/d)(c/d)(e/f)(e/f)(g/h)(g/h)(i/j)(i/j)(k/l)(k/l)(m/n)(m/n)
Dual SonnetAny meter, any rhyme scheme Created by  Allan R. Emery, aka Joe King on Allpoetry.
Dueces SonnetRhyme Scheme: abba abba baab aa
Dutch Sonnetababaaccdxdfxf
Echo Sonneta*bbA accA addA a*A
Created by Jeff Green writing as CricketJeff.
Elfmath Sonnet Re-uses identical words in specific pattern as opposed to rhyme scheme.
English Sonnet abab cdcd efef gg
Envelope SonnetAn otherwise normal sonnet with rhyme scheme abbacddc efgefg or abbacddc efefef.
Fatima Stanza Sonnetabab bcbc cc cdcd
Flying Bird Sonnetaaaaa bbccbb aaaa
French Canadian  Sonnetabba cddc ee fggf 
Folded Sonnet
A gadget sonnet of 12 lines in iambic heptameter (Alexadrine meter).
Four Epoch Sonnetabba cdcd efge hh 
Four Kings Sonnetabbaabba abbaab
FourteenerAlexandrine meter, any rhyme
French Sonnetabba abba ccdeed or abba abba ccdccdor abba abba ccdede

 

 
Germanic Caudated Sonnetabbabccb cddcdd dee dff dgg
Gloria cum Noynoy Sonnet – Italianicabba abba cddc dd
Glorionic Sonnet aabbbccc ddedee
Grammarian SonnetStanzaic , consisting of alternate quintains and coupletsMeter is iambic pentameterRhyme scheme: abbba cc deeed ff
Harrisham Sonnetababab cdcdcd ee
Heroic Sonnetababcdcdefefghgh ii
Hybrid Sonnetabba abba cdcd eeabab cdcd efgefg abab cdcd efefef or abba cddc effe gg
Hyper SonnetFour tercets plus a couplet.Syllabic 10/8/6/5, Rhyme scheme is axa axa xaa xaa aa
Illini SonnetWritten in both iambic pentameter and tetrameter.
Rhymed: abcabcdbcdecee
Indonesian Sonnetabab abab abab ab
Italian or Petrarchan Sonnetabbaabba cdecde or abbaabba cdccdc or abbaabba cdcdcdabababab cdecde or abababab cdccdc or abababab cdcdcdababacca cdecde  or ababacca cdccdc  or ababacca cdcdcd
Irish Sonnetabab bcbc cdcd dd
Ivorian SonnetComposed of a progression of stanzas, couplet, tercet, quatrain and quintet.
Rhymed aabcbdede, then a quintet which rhymes each letter.
Japanese Sonnet aaaa bbbbbb aaaa
Jeffery’s Sonnetaabccb ddeffe ge
John Tee SonnetABcdefABghijAB
Kal’s First FireburstThe same as Kal’s Wondercloth Weave Sonnet, except the rhyme scheme: abcb bcdc cded de, requires line 3 in each quatrain to be feminine rhyme.
Kal’s Wondercloth  Weave Sonnetabcb bcdc cded de
Kangaroo Pause abab ccdd efef gg
Keats Sonnetabc abd cab cde de 
Kilmer’s Sonnetabba baab cdc dcd
Kindergart Klas Sonnetabca bcab cabc dd
Kiss Cross Sonnetaabb ccdd eeff gg or abab cdcd efef gg 
Kiwi Pauseabba ccdd effe gg or ababccdddedeff
Korean Sonnet aaaaaaaa bbbbbbbb; A 16 line sonnet
Kyrielle SonnetAabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB -or- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB.
La Germaniarhyming pattern: abba acca cddc ddformat: English (quatrain, quatrain, quatrain, couplet)
Lannet10 syllables per line,
No End Rhyme Allowed
Lazy Day Sonnet Created by Rebecca Kerr:  Rhyme pattern aabbccdddeeeff
Limerick  SonnetThree quatrains in anapestic meter.
Created by Jeff Green
Luc Bat SonnetA Vietnamese form with 6/8/6/8..syllable lines and internal rhyme.
Lunatic Sonnetaaab bbcc cddd ee
LuVailean SonnetAn invented sonnet form with alternating iambic pentameter and iambic dimeter lines, concluding with a heroic couplet.
Rhyme scheme: ababcdcdefefgg.
Luzvimninda Sonnetaaaa bbbb cccc dd
Mabini Sonnetabbaccaa ddaeea
Malayan Wave Sonnet –  English Formataaba bbcb ccdc dd
Marshalline Sonnetabab cdcd efef gg
Mason Sonnetabcabcbc dbadda
Maylayan Fireburstaababbcbccdcdd
Maylayan Wave Sonnetaababbcbccdcdd
Melanesian Sonnetaabaaaba aababb
Miltonic Sonnetabbaabbacdecde
Mirrored Seven SonnetRhyme scheme: ababcdeedcbaba
Isosyllabic:  7 syllable per line.
Morya’s Double LockTwo quatrains plus two tercets
Rhyme scheme: abba baab cdc dcd
Volta at or following line 9
Multi-Directional SonnetSonnet Treatment – Not a form
Mystique’s Mini SonnetIt is Stanzaic with three quatrains and a coupletIt is Syllabic 6/6/7/7 6/6/7/7 6/6/7/7  7/7It is Rhymed with a RefrainRhyme Pattern Aabb cccc Aa cc dd
Nevada SonnetUse any sonnet rhyme patteren + Internal RhymeCreated by Lawrencealot of Allpoetry
Passion SonnetA1bA2B1 bcB1c B1dbd A1A2
Paulo Comitatu SonnetThis sonnet is composed of 3 quatrains,the first line of each being iambic  pentameter or tetrameter, and  the next three being one foot less (tetrameter or trimeter).The closing couplet is Iambic pentameter.Rhyme scheme: abbb accc deee dd
PGMA SonnetForm created by Jose Risal M. Reyes in honor of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyorhyming pattern: abba abba cddc dd
Philippine Sonnet aaaa bbbb aaaa cc
Philippine Stanza Sonnetaaaa bbbb cccc dd
Polynesian WaveInvented and named by Jose Rizal M. Reyes of the Philippines.   Meter is iambic pentameterRhyme Scheme: aaxa bbxb ccxc dd
Pope John XXIII Sonnetaaaa bbbb cc dddd
Princess SonnetA formulistic sonnet with first syllable(s) rhyme with is the inverse pattern of the orginal sonnet form chosen.
Pushkin Sonnet abab ccdd eff egg
Quatern SonnetNo rhyme Required, Any Permitted
Queen’s Sonnet

Rhyme Scheme: abba ccac deed ff

Rainis Sonnetabab cbc aa, abab cbc bb, abab cbc cc abab cac aaabab cac bb, abab cac cc, abab cac aa
ReasonnetFour tercets plus a coupletrhyme scheme aaa bbb ccc ddd eeInvented by Ruth Poteet writing on Allpoetry as Reason.
Refrained SonnetA refrained rendition of an Italian Sonnet.
Rhyme Scheme: abba cbbc dbbdcc
Relaxed SonnetAlternating iambic trimeter and iambic dimeter lines
and the final couplet being iambic pentameter
Rhymed: abababcdcdcdee, where the a-rhymes are feminine.
Rime Royal Sonnetababbccdedeeff
Romblomanon Sonnetaaaa bb cccc dddd
Rondel Prime SonnetABba abAB abbaAB
Rosarian Sonnetaabcc ddbee fggf
Rubaiyat Sonnet aaba bbcb ccac aa
Russia’s Twin Eagles Invented and named by Jose Rizal M. Reyes of the Philippines.Meter is iambic pentameterRhyme Scheme: aba bccb ded effe
Salamander’s FireburstRhyme pattern is abcb acdc aded ae, where the c and d rhymes must be feminine.
Sapphic Ode Sonnetabab cdcd efef gg
Saraband Sonnet –  English Styleaaa abab aaa abab, aaa abab aaa abcbaxa abab axa abab, axa abab axa abcbaaa abcb aaa abab, aaa abcb aaa abcbaxa abcb axa abab, axa abcb axa abcb
Saraband Sonnet –  French Styleaaa bbcc aaa bbcc or aza bbcc aza bbcc (where “z” lines must  rhyme with each other, but can have any value, inclueding a-c.)
Saraband Sonnet –  Italian Styleaaa baab aaa baab or axa baab axa baab
Saraband Sonnet –  Spanish Styleaaa bcbc aaa bcbc or axa bcbc axa bcbc
Schwim’s SonnetA 13 line sonnet consisting of 3 quatrains plus a closing line.
Internal rhyme on odd-numbered quatrain lines.
Created by W.W. Schwim.
Scupham SonnetTwo  Scupham stanzas (sextets) followed by a coupletMetered: Iambic PentamterRhymed: abccba deffed gg
Sestina SonnetNo Rhyme, Formulistic word pattern
Sephallian Reverse SonnetWhen read in the normal fashion, the poem has a pessimistic tone, but when read from bottom to top, it becomes and optimistic poem.  The rhyme scheme is abcdeedcbaffa and may optionally be written as a refrain sonnet as A1bcdeedcbA2ffA2A1.
Shadow SonnetAny Sonnet rhyme + Internal rhymeCreated by Victoria Sutton aka Passionspromise on Allpoetry
Sicilan Sonnetabababab cdccdc  or abababab cdecde
Signature SonnetA 15 line sonnet, 3 quintains, aabba bbaab ababa,iambic tetrameter, created by B. Chandler
Skeeter SonnetA gadget sonnet consisting of a lines of two feet:
A dactyl plus a trochee, which is catalectic on all even lines except the last.
Slide Sonnetaabb ccdd eeff gg or abab cdcd efef ggor abba cddc effe gg 
Solihull Sonnetababababababcc, created by Barry Hopkins
SonnenzioA poem which must repeat a word from a line of another sonnet in each of its own lines.  It may be blank verse or any rhyme scheme, as long as it concludes with a rhyming couplet.
Sonnet AnapestThe defining character is that lines alternate between anapestic tetrameter and anapestic trimeter with feminine rhyme.
Sonnet ReversedA sonnet in iambic pentameter,
with Rhyme Scheme: aa bcbddedefgfg
Sonnet ReversiiA lexical sonnet, where the last word of each line, is the first word of the next line, and the first and last word of the sonnet are the same.
Sonnet Rounds, Crowns, and Sonnet RedoubléHere Lies this poet’s proudest work.
SonondillaIt should be written in octosyllabic lines.
Meter either iambic or trochaic
Rhyme Scheme: abbaabbaccddcc
Volta to appear at line 9.
South African Quilt It is defined by the Rhyme scheme: aabb ccdd efg efg
Spenserian Forteabab bcbc cdcd dd
Spenserian Sonnetabab bcbc cdcd ee
Stefanile Triadic Sonnet aba bccdbbde efe 
Storm Sonnetabcc deff ghii jj
Super SonnetAny rhyme Scheme, 4 to 8 quatrains followed by couplet
SwannetA1. b. b. A2… c. d. d. c… e. f. f. e… A1. A2.
Teacher-Pupil EquationRhyme Pattern: aaaa aaaa bbbb bb
Teddybard SonnetRhyme Pattern: aaaabbccddeeff
Tennyson-Turner’s   Sonnetabab  cdcd  effe  fe
Tet Zayin SonnetAabb bbcc ccdd ddaA 
Terza Rima SonnetA1bA2 bcb cdc dad A1A2 or  aba bcb cdc ded ff
Tory HexaTet Sonnetababcdcd ee ffgg Created by Victoria Sutton aka Passionspromise on Allpoetry
Transitive Sonnetaa bbb cccc bbb aa rhyme scheme May change between occurrences of indicated rhyme on basis of slant rhyme, sight rhyme, metronyms, etc.
Triolet Sonnet ABaAab ABaAab AB
Trinidad Sonnet Aba cbc Ded fef AD
Tirrell Sonnet A1A2 bcb cddc bcb A2A1Created by R.L. Leonard, aka Tirrell on Allpoetry.
Tuckerman’s Sonnetabbabcab adeced  or abbabcba bdeced
Turkey’s Delight

abba ccdd efef gg

VaughanetA form which uses near rhyme, in the volta coming at L5-6
Rhmye Scheme: abab cc dede fgfg 
Visayan SplashStanzaic: 3 quatrains and a couplet.
Rhyme Scheme: abcb bcdc cdad da
Visser SonnetInternal rhyme only Octet + Sestet -Usually Iambic PentameterInternal Rhyme scheme abbaabba cdecde
Originated by Audrea Visser
Volcanic FireburstStanzaic: 3 quatrains and a couplet.
The rhyme scheme is: abba ccDD eeDD ff, where the capital letters indicate feminine rhyme.
Volcanic WorkshopStanzaic: 3 quatrains and a rhyming couplet.
Rhyme Scheme: abBB ccBB ddBB ee, where the capital letters indicate feminine rhyme.
Weaver’s SonnetCreated by Tim Weaver, aka Poeticweaver on AllpoetyRhyme pattern: aabb cdcd efef ggVolta/Meter/Line length optional
Whimsical SonnetLines alternate between iambic pentameter and hexameterRhyme scheme: abab cccc dede ff*where f* is a near rhyme to f
Word Sonnetany sonnet rhyme pattern, one word per line
Wordsworth Sonnetabbaacca dede ff
Wreathed and Unwreathed Sonneta(a/b)(b/a)(a/b)(b/c)(c/d)(d/c)(c/d)e(e/f)(b/e)(e/b)(b/e)(e/f)
a specific internal rhyme scheme.
Wyatt/Surreyabbaabba cddc ee

Last Added Lazy Day Sonnet

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