Lai Nouveau
Type: Structure, Metrical Requirement, Repetitive Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Stanzaic
Description: Related to the Lai, the Lai Nouveau has a similar pattern, but uses the first two “a” rhymes as refrains in subsequent verses, much like the villanelle. The lai nouveau always ends with the first two lines reversed. It can be any number of stanzas.
Origin: French
Schematic: Sample four stanza scematic:
xxxxA1
xxxxA2
xb
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb
xxxxa
xxxxa
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb or xc
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb or xc
xxxxa
xxxxA1
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb or xd
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb or xd
xxxxa
xxxxA2
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb or xe
xxxxa
xxxxa
xb or xe
xxxxA2
xxxxA1
Rhythm/Stanza Length: 8
Pasted from http://www.poetrybase.info/forms/001/163.shtml
My thanks to Charles L. Weatherford for his years of work on the wonderful Poetrybase resource.
______________
Lai Nouveau, a short narrative verse form, is a shortened version of the Lai.
The Lai Nouveau is:
• an octave, 8 lines made up of 2 tercets followed by a rhymed couplet.
• syllabic, syllables per line, 5-5-2-5-5-2-5-5.
• rhymed aabaabaa
Journey by Mike Monteuil 26 March 2006
Spring days are ahead;
young ones to be fed.
Perhaps,
I am to be led,
despite what is said.
Let lapse
hate, the journey’s wed
to our minds instead.
Lai Nouveau by Mike Montreuil 8 April 2006
Do not wander far,
it’s all too bizarre,
my friend.
A late morning star
lights our motorcar;
portend
to a life afar
paintings by Renoir.
Pasted from http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?/topic/686-lai-family-of-forms-lai-lai-nouveaukyriellebergerettevirelai/
My thanks to Judi Van Gorder for years of work on this fine PMO resource.
Related Forms: Kyrielle, Double Refrain Kyrielle, Lai, Lai Nouveau, Viralai Ancien, Viralai, Virelet
My example poem
Twilight Insight (Lai Nouveau)
Doesn’t it seem right?
Thoughts explode at night
inspired
by diminished sight
of the daily blight
required
by those we’d indict-
greedy men with spite.
Pinnacles of light
standing tall and bright
suggest
epics man may write
in actions despite
their quest
seeking greater height.
Doesn’t it seem right?
Alone at twilight
many minds delight
in dreams
ere sleep is in sight
ether will invite
thought streams
common and polite.
Thoughts explode at night.
Men when not uptight
find it quite alright
to share
Idea’s that excite
everyone and fight
despair.
Thoughts explode at night.
Doesn’t it seem right?
© Lawrencealot – August 11, 2014
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