Saraband Sonnet- Spanish Style

tercet + quatrain + tercet + quatrain
Four stanzas
Volta at Line 8

Stanza 1 a tercet, rhyme axa or aaa

Stanza 2 a quatrain, any quatrain form or rhyme
The stanza forms may be mixed
Note my lables and templates do not consider mixed forms.

  • English: abab or abcb
  • Italian: baab
  • Spanish: bcbc
  • French: bbcc

Stanza 3 a tercet, same tercet form as stanza 1
a sonnet with a French tercet requires
line 2 of both tercets to rhyme.

Stanza 4 a quatrain, any quatrain form and
rhyme
Any metrical foot
Any metrical line
Some authorities insist on eight syllables but this is not cut and dried
Rhyme scheme: depends on the form chosen.
The volta the first line of the second tercet.

aaa bcbc aaa bcbc
axa bcbc axa bcbc

Example Poem:

Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Sarabande Sonnet)

If you should speak in anger, dear
first speak where only you can hear
to be assured your meaning’s clear.

If meaning’s clear then is it fair?
is blame essential to be found?
Are words intended to repair,
and will they guide toward common ground?

Perhaps they ought to disappear
until your anger is not here,
for thrown, they travel like a spear.

The ripples spread out everywhere.
Use whispers closely, late tonight.
Just say you’re angry- for I care.
And honey I will make it right.

(c) Lawrencealot

Visual Template:  (Early on I found the spelling shown below, but have intentionally chose to opt for the more commonly found “Saraband”.

Sarabande Sonnet- Italian Style

tercet + quatrain + tercet + quatrain
Four stanzas
Volta at Line 8

Stanza 1 a tercet, rhyme axa or aaa

Stanza 2 a quatrain, any quatrain form or rhyme
The stanza forms may be mixed
Note: My labels and template do NOT consider any form mixing.

  • English: abab or abcb
  • Italian: baab
  • Spanish: bcbc
  • French: bbcc

Stanza 3 a tercet, same tercet form as stanza 1
a sonnet with a French tercet requires
line 2 of both tercets to rhyme.

Stanza 4 a quatrain, any quatrain form and rhyme

  • Any metrical foot
  • Any metrical line
  • Some authorities insist on eight syllables but this is not cut and dried
  • Rhyme scheme: depends on the form chosen.

The volta the first line of the second tercet.

aaa baab aaa baab
axa baab axa baab

Example Poem:

I have no Example Poem yet, Please Feel Free to send me one.

Visual Template:

Saraband Sonnet – French Style

tercet + quatrain + tercet + quatrain
Four stanzas
Volta at Line 8
Stanza 1 a tercet, rhyme axa or aaa
Stanza 2 a quatrain, any quatrain form or rhyme
The stanza forms may be mixed
 Note: My labels and template do NOT consider any form mixing.
  • English: abab or abcb
  • Italian: baab
  • Spanish: bcbc
  • French: bbcc
  • Any metrical foot
  • Any metrical line
  • Some authorities insist on eight syllables but this is not cut and dried
Stanza 3 a tercet, same tercet form as stanza 1
a sonnet with a French tercet requires
line 2 of both tercets to rhyme.
Stanza 4 a quatrain, any quatrain form and rhyme
Rhyme scheme: depends on the form chosen.
The volta the first line of the second tercet. 
aaa bbcc aaa bbcc
aza bbcc aza bbcc
I have used the “z” letter to indicate the lines must rhyme with each other, but may have any value, including “a thru c”.
 
Example Poem:
I have no Example Poem yet, Please Feel Free to send me one.
 
 
Visual Template:  (Early on I found the spelling shown below, but have intentionally chose to opt for the more commonly found “Saraband”.

Saraband Sonnet – English Style

tercet + quatrain + tercet + quatrain
Four stanzas
Volta at Line 8

Stanza 1 a tercet, rhyme axa or aaa

Stanza 2 a quatrain, any quatrain form or rhyme
The stanza forms may be mixed
 Note: My labels and template do NOT consider any form mixing.

  • English: abab or abcb
  • Italian: baab
  • Spanish: bcbc
  • French: bbcc

Stanza 3 a tercet, same tercet form as stanza 1
a sonnet with a French tercet requires
line 2 of both tercets to rhyme.

Stanza 4 a quatrain, any quatrain form and rhyme

  • Any metrical foot
  • Any metrical line
  • Some authorities insist on eight syllables but this is not cut and dried

Rhyme scheme: depends on the form chosen.
The volta the first line of the second tercet.

Example Poem:

I have no Example Poem yet, Please Feel Free to send me one.

aaaababaaaabab, aaaababaaaabcb, axaababaxaabab, axaababaxaabcb, aaaabcbaaaabab, aaaabcbaaaabcb, axaabcbaxaabab, axaabcbaxaabcb

Visual Template:  (Early on I found the spelling showne below, but have intentionally chose to opt for the more commonly found “Saraband”.

Alternating Sonnet

The Alternating Sonnet is one of the French adaptations of the sonnet. It employs alternating quatrains and tercets in either order.  Order determines rhyme scheme.

Rhyme Pattern: abba/ccd/abba/ede  or  aab/cddc/ebe/cddc

Metrical, usually Iambic Pentameter

Volta at L8, L11, or L12

Example Poem

Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Alternating Sonnet)

Should you be moved to speak in anger dear
I ask that first you test your words alone.
If anger stems from blunder of my own
You’ll want to be assured your meaning’s clear.

Is it essential now that blame be found;
will such proceed toward a common ground?
Are these first words intended to repair?

Perhaps, the words should simply disappear
for now, until your anger can abate.
There’s nothing risked delaying words that grate.
Unleashed, harsh words will travel like a spear.

If I have stumbled I’ll get straight, don’t fear.
A whispered message cancels all despair,
A dulcet voice- you know I’ll come around.

Lawrencealot – April 2013

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