Tag Archives: Abab cAca adAd eaeA

Empat Empat

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Empat Empat form poetry
Early form of rhyming verse from Malaysia.
Four Four line stanza
Stair case refrain of line 1
Meter:  8 or 10 syllable per line – though I have see it with but 4
Rhyme Scheme   Abab cAca adAd eaeA
Example Poem
Sentry Pup       (Empat Empat)
 
While set on pause I’m actively alert.
My ears are peaked and will not miss a sound.
I’ll rest my head on any shoe or shirt
or artifact of master’s that I’ve found.
Though not so big, or armed with mighty jaws,
while set on pause I’m actively alert.
I hear the flapping crows and hear their caws
and I ignore the sounds that cannot hurt.
I’ll sense intruders, stealthy and covert
I am a biological alarm.
While set on pause I’m actively alert.
Protecting all from things that may cause harm.
When not on paws’ I’m set with throttle full
to romp with my boy through the grass and dirt,
to chase a ball of find some thing to pull.
While set on pause I’m actively alert.
  © Lawrencealot – March 10, 2013
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Quatern

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The Quatern is a French form that consists of four quatrains (4-line stanzas),
with 8 syllables in each line.
The first line of stanza 1 is repeated as a refrain line as the second line of stanza 2,
the third line of stanza 3 and the last line of stanza 4.
There is no set meter or rhyme scheme.
 
Possible rime schemes  –  virtually any are ok
i. Abab, cAca, adAd, eaeA
ii. Aabb, aAbb, bbAa, bbaA
iii. Axax, xAxa, axAx, xaxA
Example Poem
Write a Quatern
This line shall serve as a refrain.
Each stanza moves it down again.
This form is in tetrameter,
but may be done pentameter
Though that does go against the grain.
This line shall serve as a refrain.
The first two lines were fine iambs,
But in the next, that meter scrams.
No meter is required at all
which makes choosing good words, a ball.
This line shall serve as a refrain.
Rhyming with refrain is no strain.
Just two more lines will do the trick.
Then we are finished pretty quick
You’re forced to “a” rhyme once again.
This line shall serve as a refrain.
© Lawrencalot – April 1, 2012
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