Category Archives: Metric

For-Get-Me-Not

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  • For-Get-Me-Not is a tiny verse originated by Viola Gardner.The For-Get-Me-Not  is:
    • a small poem, a complete couplet (2 lines).
    • syllabic, 4 syllable lines.
    • rhymed.
    • titled.
      May by jvg
      A daisy day
      will lead the way.
My Thanks to Judi Van Gorder for the wonderful resource at PMO
My Example Poem
Ahhh!
If you want brief –
Here’s your relief.

Chaucerian Roundel

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Chaucerian Roundel
The Chaucerian roundel was developed by (obviously) Chaucer from (less obviously) the rondel rather than the roundel – not that there’s a huge amount of difference.  This example is dedicated to the Athenian gentleman who, in an e-mail, described my website as a “labor of love” (yes, it was Athens, Georgia). 
Ambition 
I’d like to do this all the time.
It doesn’t pay, but I confess
I love my day job rather less.
I’m tiring of the search for rhyme
And reason in life’s heaving mess.
I’d like to do this all the time.
A poet’s life must be sublime.
Those lucky few the gods would bless
Breathe only poetry. Oh yes,
I’d like to do this all the time. 
As with the rondel etc, there is a refrain, the first line being repeated at the end of the second and third stanzas. The rhyming scheme is Abb; abA; abbA, (AbbabAabbA) where the capital A’s denote the repetition of entire lines. No particular line length or metre is required.
My Thanks to Bob Newman for the wonderful resources at Volecentral.
The Chaucerian Roundel is closer to the French Rondel than the English Roundel. It is named for its originator Geoffrey Chaucer who has been said to write his Knight’s tale in the roundel, the rondel and the rondeau (take your pick). This verse form was found at Vol Central
The Chaucerian Roundel is:
  • a decastich, made up of 2 tercets followed by a quatrain.
  • written in no particular line length or meter although the form is often written in lines of equal length. Iambic tetrameter or pentameter lines are common.
  • rhymed Abb abA abbA , the A is a refrain.
  • composed with a refrain; L1 is repeated as a refrain in L6 and L10.
Pasted from <http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?/topic/667-chaucerian-roundel/>(line length optional, meter optional)
My Thanks to Judi Van Gorder for the wonderful resource at PMO.
My Example Poem
Could Be     (Chaucerian Roundel)
Could be our troubles are a state of mind,
could be that they’re imposed and very real,
like acts of God that man cannot appeal.
But social troubles I suspect you’ll find
depend to great extent on how you feel,
could be our troubles are a state of mind.
If one decides to leave ones woes behind
and acts accordingly with honest zeal
he’ll find that other’s slights are no big deal;
could be our troubles are a state of mind.
© Lawrencealot – February 12, 2014
Visual Template
(note: although line length and meter are not required,
  this is set up for iambic pentameter)

Soft-Songed Tercet

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Soft-Songed Tercet
Type:
Structure, Metrical Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Other Requirement, Simple
Description:
This form has four requirements.
  1. It is iambic.
  2. The schema is:xxxxxa
    xxxxxbxxxxxb
    xxxxxa
  3. There must be an unusual image or turn of phrase.
  4. It must have a soft feel to it.
There is also a multi-stanza form called the soft-songed triplet.
Schematic:
Rhyme/Syllable:
xxxxxa
xxxxxbxxxxxb
xxxxxa
Meter:
xX xX xX
Thanks to Charles L. Weatherford for the wonderful resource.
  • Soft Songed Tercet is an invented verse form found at Poetry Base that has an unusual request, the verse must have a “soft feel”.The Soft Songed Tercet is:
    • a tristich, a poem in 3 lines. When written in more than one tercet the form is oddly named the Soft Songed Triplet. (“Tercet” is 3 line unit as is a “triplet”, both of which can be written in any number within a poem. The words are often used interchangeably however, the classic English “triplet” is usually monorhymed. So technically the name Soft Songed Tercet properly should apply to both a single tristich or the stanzaic form of any number of tercets.)
    • metered, iambic, L1 &L3 are trimeter, L2 is hexameter.
    • rhymed, rhymed a(bb)a L2 has internal rhyme.
    • composed with an unusual image.
    • composed with a “soft feel”.
      x x x x x a
      x x x x x b x x x x x b
      x x x x x a       
      Furry Fix by jvgSilky fluff warms my palm
      as I cup a small plump rabbit waiting to jump
      free. Its fine fur a balm.
Thanks to Judi Van Gorder for the wonderful resource.
Example Poem
Fluppet
So fluffy I’ve been made
I’ll bring your daughter joy – become her favorite toy,
she’ll never be afraid.
© Lawrencealot – February 6, 2014
Visual Template

Chanso

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Chanso
Type:
Structure, Metrical Requirement, Repetitive Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Other Requirement, Isosyllabic
Description:
Another French isosyllabic form of either five or six stanzas plus an envoy. A Chanso must be very regular in structure. The same number of syllables in each line, the stanzas all the same, the envoy being like the last half of a stanza, the rhyme scheme the same, but beyond that, you get to make it up. The double ballade and double ballade supreme would both be considered to fit this form. So would any number of other variations.
Origin
French
Copyright © 2001-2013 by Charles L. Weatherford. All rights reserved.
__________________
Canso, Chanso, Chanson French, Occitan and Provincial love songs, made popular in 12th century Europe by the troubadours which constantly strove for originality and perfection of form. The lines between the 3 terms is blurred. The Chanson is believed to be the inspiration for the ItalianCanzone. The verse often exalted a lady love. Courtly Compliment is a sub genre of the Chanson.
The Canso, Chanso or Chanson are:
  • stanzaic, usually 5 or 6 nonce stanzas of identical pattern.
  • expected to be original in form. The metric length of the line, the number of lines in a stanza, the rhyme scheme was expected to be different from anything that had gone before.
  • often ended by an envoy or tornada structured in the same pattern as the last half of the previous stanzas. (The Occitan tornada is a dedication to a patron or friend added at the end of verse while the French envoy is a summation of the theme added to the end of the verse. )
My thanks to Mr. Weatherford, and to Ms.  Van Gorder for their fine resources.





Example Poem
 
Cold-cuts      (Chanso)
I planned to lunch at home today
and get away from office noise.
A hot pastrami sounds so good,
I know I would enjoy it much
and then a nap would sound okay.
I stacked thin slices pretty high
I don’t know why but thinner works;
I slathered mustard on the meat
then set the heat at one-oh-one.
It smelled so good on fresh warm rye.
I was about with great delight
to take a bite when cell-phone chimes
demanded my reluctant ear
a financier it seems was keen
to cure my future’s fiscal plight.
He was informed and spoke at length
of safety, strength ,and asset growth,
with fortune favoring the bold;
my sandwich cold he said good-bye
for like I said he spoke at length.
I heated up my meal once more
then at the door there came a knock
(a lady looking for my wife),
who for the life of me I know
I didn’t know, I stalled therefore.
Two more phone calls and one more knock,
by then the clock showed time to get
me back to join the working fold
and eat my cold repast at last-
warm lunch at home  is such a crock!
© Lawrencealot – January 22, 2014
Visual Template
This is simply a template relating to the poem above.
A poet can use any line length or meter he wants, so their can be no “correct template.”
In this case I used iambic tetrameter, interlaced rhyme, and a unique rhyme scheme.
Note.  The specifications at the top call for repetition which I have not employed.

Strambotto

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The Strambotto has three primary versions:
All are presented here.
The Siciliano,  rhymed abababab
The Tuscano,  rhymed ababccdd (preferred), abababcc,  aabbccdd
and the Romagnuolo, rhymed ababccdd
It is:
Lyrical – Written as one octave, or with the Tuscano, possibly one sestet.  It you wish to write several stanza it becomes an Ottava Rima.
Rhymed – Each with its specific pattern(s).
Isosyllabic – Each line has precisely eleven syllables.
Below are additional resources with history and added information.  At the end you will find my Visual Templates.
________________________________
Strambotto
This was an early form of Italian poetry that was set to music by composers of the frottola and madrigals of the 16th century. The poetry is set into very strict stanzas of eight lines of eleven syllables. This type of stanza is known as rispetto or ottava rima. The musical rispetto was usualy dedicated to a lady love, Aside from the fact the ottava rima had no set form length and later became Iambic it also came from literature and generally had multiple stanzas, but musical version, the strambotto was typically created with a single stanza.
There are three basic types of strambotto and they are identified by their rhyme scheme.
1. Strambotto Siciliano
It will be noted that this is similar to the Sicilian Octave, but follows the Strombotto rules and consists of eight strict hendecasyllable lines (11 syllables), and similarly for multi stanzas.
a. b. a. b. a. b. a. b. 
2. Strambotto Toscano
This form is most used for stand alone poetry, but can be used for multiple stanzas. When writing muliple stanzas (as in a song), it is usual to link each stanza by either a refrain or using the whole or part of the last line of the previous stanza as the first line of the next stanza:
a. b. a. b. a. b. c. c. 
3. Strambotto Romagnuolo
This form has the octave constructed from a Sicilian quatrain and a quatrain of two couplets. The same rules apply about stand alone poems, and multiple stanzas.
a. b. a. b. c. c. d. d
My thanks to the poetsgarret.
The Strambotto is thought to have influenced the development of the Sicilian Octave and the birth of the sonnet. The Strambotto is one of the earliest Italian verse forms and can be found in works from the 12th through the 19th centuries usually set to music. The name comes from the Occitan,estrabot which refers to sentimental and or amorous rhymes. Sources suggest the early Strambotto varied between 6 or 8 lines long however it was eventually recognized as an 8 line form holding fast to a strict 11 syllable line. Rhyme seems to be delineated by territory, Tuscan, Sicilian and Romano. The frame appears to be the same as the Ottavo Rima Stanza. However, the forms are quite different in that the Strombotto is limited to a single lyrical, octave while the Ottavo Rima is a narrative, stanzaic verse written with any number of octaves. 
 IN ADDITION THE OTTAVO RIMA may be decasyllabic LARRY
The Strambotto is:
  • lyrical.
  • an octastich, a poem in 8 lines. (When written in narrative stanzas it is better known as Ottava Rima)
  • syllabic, strict hendecasyllabic lines. In English it has been found in iambic pentameter.
  • rhymed, most often follows the Tuscan patterns of abababcc and occasionally aabbccdd and is sometimes called Strambotto Tuscano. TheSicilian Strambottos followed the rhyme pattern of abababab and the Strambotto Romagnuolo carries a rhyme scheme of ababccdd.
My thanks to PoetryMagnumOpus
Strambotto (Sicilian)
Type:
Structure, Metrical Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Other Requirement, Stanzaic
Description:
Hendecasyllabic lines rhymed abababab. Usually is lyrical and sentimental or amorous.
Origin:
Sicily
Schematic:
Rhyme: abababab
Meter: xxxxxxxxxxx
Rhythm/Stanza Length:
8
See Also:
Status:
Incomplete
Strambotto (Tuscan)
Type:
Structure, Metrical Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Other Requirement, Stanzaic
Description:
Stanzas of 6 or 8 hendecasyllabic lines rhymed ababccdd (preferred), abababcc, aabbccdd, ababcc, ababab, or aabbcc. Usually is lyrical and sentimental or amorous.
Origin:
Italian
Schematic:
Rhyme:
ababccdd (preferred),
abababcc,
aabbccdd,
ababcc,
ababab, or
aabbcc
Meter: xxxxxxxxxxx
See Also:
My thanks to Poetry Base.
Example Poem
This Drink’s on Me, Err… You (Strambotto)
While I drank sociably, the crowd grew pressing
I’d come because the band was recommended.
Folks were rowdy, unfriendly, rude, depressing.
A girl approached, her lovely hand extended
“May I have your stool to sit next to my sis?”?
“Sure.?” I’d been taught manners are not hit or miss.
Her “sis” rose, gave seat to girl’s male friend (I think.)
When they danced I spilled upon their stools, my drink.
© Lawrencealot – December 12, 2013
VISUAL TEMPLATES. These show the rhyme patterns and syllable count.
                                      No specfic meter is mandated, I have shown both
                                      iambic and trochaic possibilities.

Ochtfochlach

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The ochtfochlach is an Irish verse formof 8 lines with a consistent but unspecified length and meter. The rhyme scheme is aaab cccb. (aaabcccb)
The Ochtfochlach
I like the form and rhythm, too;
It fits and wears like well-made shoe.
With luck it lasts a whole life through
And looks no worse for wear.
Iambic feet can march along
And lend their cadence to a song
With beats that switch from soft to strong,
A pace that’s light to bear.
My example poem
Fochlach It   (Ochtfochlach)
The Ochtingfochlach rocks
it’s not some damn flummox;
I penned this wearing socks,
and yes, without my shoes.
Define most any style
this form will soon beguile
and render forth a smile.
So what is there to lose?
© Lawrencealot – December 4, 2013
Visual Template
There is no requirement for meter or line-length, though I chose iambic trimeter for this write.

Scupham Stanza

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It was created by British poet, Peter Scupham.
It is
isosyllabic
stanzaic, written in any number of sixains,
rhymed: abccba
meter optional

Example Poem

Waisted!     (Scupham Stanza)
 
 
 
The Scupham rhyme is like our Cathie Jung.
Who is in the Guiness World Record book.
The stanza’s spread by rhyme  that pinches some
When to the middle you let rhyming come.
That could be construed as the hour-glass look.
A form for which this septarian’s sung.
© Lawrencealot – November 9, 2013
 
 
 
Author’s Note
The smallest waist belongs to Cathie Jung (USA, b. 1937),
who stands at 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) and has a corseted waist measuring
38.1 cm (15 in). Un-corseted, it measures 53.34 cm (21 in).
 
Visual Template
(Decasyllabic version)
 

Retourne

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Like so many other French forms, the Retourne is all about repetition. It contains four quatrains and each line has eight syllables.
(16 lines, 8/8/8/8)
The trick is that the first stanza’s second line must also be the second stanza’s first line, the first stanza’s third line is the third stanza’s first, and the first stanza’s fourth line is the fourth stanza’s first.
Retournes do not have to rhyme. (rhyme optional)
Example Poem
Abandoned
I’d loved her only all my life.
She found another to her taste.
She left me– I now have no wife.
New city, no friends; joys erased.
She found another to her taste.
I begged, pleaded, asked her to stay
“I miss you, come back! what a waste,
keeping your lover is okay.”
She left me– I now have no wife.
Anquish bestirred me. I tried drink.
But quit to give my boys a life.
Work, feed the boys, cry, try to think.
New city, no friends; joys erased.
It took a long while, ‘ere I tried
to date– I was feeling disgraced
How could I ever lose my bride?
© Lawrencealot – April, 2012
Visual Template
 
 

Michelle's Quatrain Wrap

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This form was created by  Michelle DeLoatch-Barbosa , aka Michelle723 of Allpoety.

 

It consists of four or more quatrains
the first three lines being written in iambic tetrameter
and the last line being written in iambic trimeter.
Of course poets so inclined may substitute trochaic meter.

Rhyme Scheme: aaab cccb dddb … aaab
Example Poem


Tombstone Movie (Michelle’s Quatrain Wrap)

The outlaws had a power base,
controlled the town and usually chased
the law-abiding from the place
and sent them further west.
When Wyatt Earp rode into town
it was to put his own roots down
he’d served as lawman and had found
large measures of success.
He’d brought his wife and brothers too,
all prepared to try something new.
He thought his fighting days were through
He wanted now to rest.
Ike Clanton and an outlaw gang
controlled the town with strum und drang;
the sheriff there weren’t worth a dang.
Here outlaws coalesced.
A marshal’s killed and terror reigns
and brother Virgil takes the reins
then outlaw enmity begins
with their law self-professed.
Doc Holiday is Wyatt’s friend
and to his efforts Doc did lend
his pistol power to defend
a friend he called his best.
When Wyatt met his Josephine
a love at mutual first sight’s seen
she leaves before the showdown scene
and moves to the far west.
An ambush kills or maims his kin
then Wyatt dons a badge again
and vows the outlaws now can’t win,
their deaths pre-empt arrest.
When Holiday beats Ringo Starr
who could have beaten Earp by far
the outlaws are without a star,
their power dispossessed.
Doc gives Wyatt some sound advice:
before with boots off Doc then dies
most entertained by that surprise-
his final thought expressed.
When Wyatt found her, pled his case,
she accepted and they embraced
with love that never was erased,
as Holiday assessed.
© Lawrencealot – September 2, 2013
A/N
Following its cinematic release in 1993, Tombstone was named “One of the 5 greatest Westerns ever made” by True West Magazine.
Visual Template:

Forward/Backwards Poetry

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Simply poetry that reads as a coherent verse from top to bottom or when read from bottom to top.
See also:  Trick Poetry.
Example poem:
The Search / The Capture
Well  okay dammit I give up.
You’re smarter than a Cheshire cat,
more stubborn than a Pit Bull pup,
there’s no escaping all of that.
You talk to beasts within the bog
the beasts choose to leave you alone
perhaps because Rambo’s your dog,
and your own dog weighs eighteen stone.
No hiding from the two of you
you have such access in the bog;
it seems all life there takes the view
they’re friends with you and Rambo dog.
It’s not your job to poke around
where police have already failed,
where not a trace was ever found,
no one has been detained or jailed.
Since that’s the case I shall relent.
The bog’s your turf, now that I know,
Enjoy the hunt that’s your intent
You’re granted my okay to go.
The Capture
(c) Lawrencealot – April 19, 2013
Simply for your reading out-loud convenience
I have printed it switched below.
The Capture
You’re granted my okay to go.
Enjoy the hunt;  that’s your intent
The bog’s your turf, now that i know,
Since that’s the case I shall relent.
No one has been detained or jailed.
where not a trace was ever found,
where police have already failed,
It’s not your job to poke around .
They’re friends with you and Rambo dog
it seems all life there takes the view
you have such access in the bog;
No hiding from the two of you.
And your own dog weighs eighteen stone
Perhaps because Rambo’s your dog,
the beasts choose to leave you alone;
You talk to beasts within the bog
There’s no escaping all of that;
more stubborn than a Pit Bull pup,
You’re smarter than a Cheshire cat,
Well  okay dammit,  I give up.
The Search