Tag Archives: 7/5/7/5

Kouta

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The following description and example are reposted with permission from Poetry Magnum Opus, with thanks to Judi Van Gorder for years of work on that fine resource.

The Kouta 小唄 (little or short song) is a popular Japanese verse form of the Muromachi Period, 14th thru 16th century.  The lyrical song was resurrected as a Geisha song in the late 1800s and is still popular today. The form has several variations, though always short in only 4 lines a 5th line is sometimes is added.  The theme reflects ordinary life and often uses colloquialisms and onomatopoeia.  The most popular are love songs.  The elements of Kouta are:

  1. a poem in 4 lines. (an occasional 5th line may appear)
  2. a stand alone poem but often is accompanied by other Koutas with the same theme.
  3. syllabic, variable odd numbered syllable lengths, the most common patterns are written in lines of alternating 7-5-7-5 syllables or 7-7-7-5 syllables. 
  4. secular, personal, themes of ordinary life
  5. often includes onomatopoeia.
     

Three small sisters dressed alike
in pink polka dots on white.
Ribbons tie blonde pony tails,
“Smile girls, be polite.”
                                –jvg

My Example

Form: Kouta

[Untitled]

three old men sitting at the bar
grumbling ’bout the things that are
the good thing is they can’t go far
momma has the car

© Lawrencealot – February 13, 2015

Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Ocus Lethrannaigecht

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Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Ocus Lethrannaigecht
This is an Irish verse form. The name means “Sorry, the translator can’t take your call at the moment”. No, I’m kidding. I have no idea what it means, and not much idea how to pronounce it, though I expect there will be a few “v” sounds in there somewhere. I chose to tackle it because it had the longest name of any in Skelton’s book.
The form calls for 4-line stanzas rhyming abab, with syllable counts of 7/5/7/5. Being Irish, the lengths of the rhyming words are also specified, in this case as 3, 1, 3, 1. Note though that the 3’s don’t necessarily indicate triple rhymes; the requirement is simply that the rhyming words are three syllables long. The stress could be on any of the three syllables.
This example was provoked (I hesitate to say inspired) by the “MP’s expenses” scandal/hysteria of 2009. It amounts to propaganda for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, a long-established and respected force in British politics. At the time of the 1983 general election, when party splits were fashionable, there was a rival group called the Green Chicken Alliance.
Thanks to Bob Newman for his wonderful Volecentral resource site.
My Example Poem
Suave     (Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Ocus Lethrannaigecht)
The man was not a millionaire
but ladies sought him out
for he appeared most debonair
and kind without a doubt.
He was at all times affable
with handshake or a hug,
and the idea was laughable
to picture him as smug.
His notions all seemed prevalent
well thought out and germane,
considered and most relevant
and certainly urbane.
He has a style to emulate,
a model for my role.
I’ll have a cause to celebrate
If I achieve that goal.
© Lawrencealot – April 10, 2014
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The a-rhymes must be triple rhyme

7/5 Trochee Poetry Form

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The 7/5 Trochee, created by Andrea Dietrich,
of 2 or more quatrain stanzas ( 8 lines or more)  with the following set rules:

Meter:  Trochaic
Syllabic: 7/5/7/5
Rhyme Scheme:  abcb or abab

The meter is trochee, which means alternating stressed and
unstressed beats in each line, with each line beginning and
ending in a stressed syllable. This is a simple lyrical type|little poem, so rhymes will be basic, nothing fancy.

The poem itself should give a description of something of interest to the poet.

There is not a set number of these quatrain type stanzas,

but a typical 7/5 Trochee would consist of two quatrains,

with the second stanza serving to tie up the idea presented in the first stanza.

Pasted from <http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/75trochee.html>

 Example Poem

Nap

Sleeping eight hours every night
Seems to some divine.
Choosing such is quite their right.
Just don’t make it mine.

 I will sleep that much or more.
taking smaller blocks.
For in afternoon I snore
Even wearing socks.

 
© Lawrencealot –  June 19, 2012
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