The Decuain (pronounced duck•won), created by Shelley A. Cephas, aka Shelly A on AllPoetry, is a short poem made up of 10 lines, which can be written on any subject.
There are 10 syllables per line and the poem is written in iambic pentameter.
There are 3 set choices of rhyme scheme:
ababbcbcaa, ababbcbcbb, or ababbcbccc
Add more stanzas for a double, triple, quatruple, etc. decuain.
My Example
Decuain
Leap to Lancelot
They thought they had me trapped– the silly fools.
But I’m an acrobat and dive with skill.
I do double twists into tiny pools.
I’ll foil their evil plans to rape and kill.
After a safe dive, which will be a thrill,
I’ ll be saved by Sir Lancelot by skiff.
He’s promised so I know he surely will.
His little boat was hidden by the cliff.
No maiden fair (and that does describe me,)
will Lancelot allow be lost at sea.
© 2012 Lawrence Eberhart