Awdl Gywydd

Type: structure, meter, rhyme, stanzaic.

Description: Pronounced ‘owdl gow-widd’. Seven syllable quatrains with end rhymes and couplet binding. Welsh origin.

Isosyllabic: 7 syllables

Stanzaic: 1 or more quatrains

Rhymed: a(ab)c(cb), where (ab) and (cb) indicates interlaced rhyme mid-line and end-rhyme.

Schema:

xxxxxxa

xxaxxxb (a can be 3rd or 4th syllable)

xxxxxxc

xxcxxxb (c can be 3rd or 4th syllable)

Mid-line rhymes a and c can be various forms of rhyme but the end of line rhyme b should be perfect rhyme.

Example Poem

Midnight Ride When Full of Beer

At the game I took a chance

then at the dance I drank more.

After the twelfth beer of mine

I was supine on the floor.

They gave me hot coffee sips

which burned my lips but woke me

up so I could drink some more.

and made me sure want to pee.

After irrigating long,

the jukebox song seemed too loud.

I had the bartender send

beer to a friend in the crowd.

We both drank more; both got drunk.

Who would have thunk? Just on beer?

When the bar closed I was stoned

so help was phoned, have no fear.

“You can’t drive. There’s not a chance.

The Beerbulance is waiting.

Along with the sodden maid

we’re all afraid you’re dating.”

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