Duotrain

Tuesday, March 05, 2013
9:11 AM
Duotrain is a form invented by Bhaskar Datta of Allpoetry
It is a four stanza poem
It has no metric requirement
but each stanza alternates between 8 and six syllable lines. (8/6/8/6)
Each Stanza is required to begin with the same character of the alphabet.
Rhyme Scheme:  xaxa xbxb xcxc xdxd, (xaxaxbxbxcxcxdxd) (16 lines)
Example Poem
Let’s Write a Duotrain
To write a Duotrain today
use keyboard or a pen.
Find rhyming word to end line two,
and on line four again.
There are but two rhymes in each verse,
how easy can it be?
Eight syllables in line number
one, and again in three.
Take two away (syllables I
mean), leaving six right here.
For on even numbered lines, that
is all that should appear.
Take care that the same letter starts
the stanza every time.
That defines the Duotrain, that
and its specific rhyme.
© Larry Eberhart, aka, Lawrencealot, Oct. 14, 2012
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Emmett

The Emmett style is a fiendish five line form related to the acrostic styles.
Form Type:
Metrical
Origins:
English
Creator:
Dorothy Hester
Number of Lines:
Rhyme Scheme:
a,b,b,a,b
Meter:
N/A
Rules
The Emmett has 2 rules:
1.The first line of the Emmett is five WORDS long. Each word of the first line becomes the first word of the following lines. So the second word in line one becomes the first word of line two, the third word becomes the first word of line three, etc.
2. To make things a little more complex the Emmett has a rhyme scheme of abbab.
There are no other restrictions on meter or line length. (Meter optional, line length optional).
Example
I have wondered about this
Have pondered too
Wondered if you were true
About the first kiss
This nerve wracking thing to do
Copyright Dorothy Hester 2012
Notes
The Emmett was created by Dorothy Hester in May 2012 and was named after her maternal family name. The first example was posted on The Poetry Forum on the 2nd of May 2012
My Example
Write an Emmett
Only five words are needed.
Five words in line one, I mean.
Words to joke or vent your spleen
are swell; any wit will be heeded.
Needed rhyme, fits in between.
© Lawrencealot – March 5, 2013
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Fold

Gillena Cox, poet from Trinidad & Tobago, best known for writing haiku/senryu has created a new experimental short form called the fold.  Presented on line first at Sketchbook in 2007.
Syllabic, Meter optional, Line length optional, Rhymed: AxaxAxaxaxA, Refrain, 11 lines.
THE FOLD takes credibility from haiku; it shares moments which are special simply and exactly. Grasping the tools of juxtaposition and contrast, THE FOLD crafts itself into a rhyming form of ELEVEN lines—unlike its three lined haiku progenitor.
There is one rhyme continuing throughout the poem, occurring at every other line: uneven lines rhyme. Lines ONE, FIVE and ELEVEN carry the same last phrase, to form the EDGES of the FOLD. Line ONE repeats at line FIVE which is the CREASE of the FOLD.
Since there are no metric or syllable requirements, any template can merely be
illustrative, so here one is:
fold
Example Poem
Burners    (Fold)
Burner
people shed their clothes at the Burning Man;
self-expression and anarchy rule;
a community grows in desert sand,
freedom expressed in artistic artifacts,
people shed their clothes at the Burning Man;
fifty thousand acting as they please
no big- name acts, attendees themselves can
dance, sing, entertain with instruments,
make-up, costumes, magic, getting a tan;
strangers welcome most any where;
community works at the Burning Man.
© Lawrencealot – October 9, 2012

Garland Cinquain

This is one of the more interesting Cinquain variations. It starts as a Crown Cinquain but adds a final Cinquain made up of line drawn from the preceding Cinquains.

 
Form Type: Syllabic
Origins: Unknown
Creator: Unknown
Number of Lines: 30
Rhyme Scheme: Not applicable
Meter: Not applicable
 
Rules
All the usual Cinquain rules apply, but there is an additional rule for the final Cinquain.
Those rules are: Stanza with 2/4/6/8/2 syllable, have being stressed.
 
 
1. The final Cinquain is generally formed from lines drawn from the proceding Cinquains.
 
2. The order of the lines is generally L1 from S1, L2 from S2, etc. (Refrain)
 
Pasted from <http://bensonofjohn.co.uk/poetry/formssearch.php?searchbox=Garland%20Cinquain> 
 
  Example Poem
 
It  Works!
 
It Works!      (Garland Cinquain)
Believe 
that you have choice. 
Clouds, leaves, and fingernails 
all have no voice and are programmed. 
Not you. 
 
You know 
smiles beget smiles 
and frowns and grumpiness 
pollute your social atmosphere.
So smile. 
 
Try to 
remember that 
and karma is a force 
that might affect what comes your way. 
Take care.
 
Remind 
yourself that most 
people respond to smiles 
then act accordingly each day. 
OK? 
 
Give grins 
and friendly tones 
most gratuitously 
with up-lifting intent, my friend. 
You’ll win.
 
Believe 
smiles beget smiles 
and karma is a force 
then act accordingly each day. 
You’ll win.
 
© Lawrencealot – March 3, 2013
 
 
 
 
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Ghazal

The Ghazal (pronounced Guzzle) is an Arabic form that consists of rhyming couplets. It typically deals with the pain of love (especially lost love) combined with the beauty of love. The Persian form which derives from the older Arabic form deviates considerably. Generally when the Ghazal is described it is the Persian form that is used. Goethe introduced the form to the Western world which became transmuted into the Bastard Ghazal
Form Type:
Metered
Origins:
Arabic
Creator:
Unknown
Number of Lines:
Rhyme Scheme:
AA, bA, cA, etc
Meter:
Not Applicable
Persian Ghazal
There are a number of rules to observe in a fully formed Persian Ghazal, though some may be omitted. They are:
1. The poem must consist of 5 or more couplets, known as sher or bayt unto a maximum of 25 couplets.
2. The second line of each sher usually ends with a radif which is a repeated word or phrase, this may however be omitted.
3. Before the radif or at the end of the sher if the radif is not present is a rhyme known as the qaafiyaa.
4. Each line and each couplet must have the same meter beher. Although this restriction is relaxed in modern Urdu Gazals.
5. Each couplet must be complete within itself, there is no enjambment across couplets.
6. Each sher should be a closed poem in its own right, however there may be a continuity of theme or thought running through them. In this case the poem is known as a musalsal ghazal (continuous ghazal).
7. The final sher is called the maqta it is usual for the writer to include their takhallus name or pen name in this sher. However this is relaxed in some modern Ghazals.
8. Normal practice is to keep the number of Shers odd.
Arabic Ghazal
The older Arabic form of the Ghazal differs slightly with its rules. They are:
1. It is traditional not to split the Sher into a couplet, but to keep it as a bayt (long line). However it can still be rendered as a couplet.
2. Each line must share the same meter. The line must divide naturally into two hemistiches (halves) with a caesura in the middle. The caesura must occur metrically and may appear in the middle of a word. The author decides how visible the caesura should be.
3. The length of a hemistiches must be between trimeter and heptameter. If using a accentual or accentual-syllabic meter you will have between three and seven beats. If using syllabic meter then the hemistiches should be between six and fourteen syllables long. If totally free style then the lines should look evenly balanced.
4. Monorhyme is employed for each line of the poem.
5. While Slant Rhyme can be used it should not be so subtle as to lose the effect of rhyme which is vital to this form.
6. Using the same rhyming word should be avoided unless there is a very good reason for it.
7. Complete Autonomy within a line is not as important as in the Persian forn. Some enjambment between lines is allowed, but this should not be too radical.
8. The first line rhymes the syllable before the caesura with the syllable ending the line. All other lines rhyme on the final syllable.
9. Stanza breaks are not required and may be used when the writer feels it is appropriate.

These were the total initial specifications when I wrote Your Love.

A Ghazal is a poem that is made up like an odd numbered chain of couplets,
where each couplet is an independent poem.
It should be natural to put a comma at the end of the first line.
The Ghazal has a refrain of one to three words that repeat,
and an inline rhyme that precedes the refrain.
Lines 1 and 2, then every second line has this refrain
and inline rhyme, and the last couplet should refer to the
authors pen-name… The rhyming scheme is Aa bA cA dA eA etc.
How to write a Ghazal’
1. Layout a template with a minimum of five couplets of identical length. Each couplet is two lines so the minimum poem length is 10 lines.
2. Each couplet should be able to stand alone, as if it were its own poem.
3. Select an ending word that will end the first two lines, the word as perhaps part of a short phrase will become a refrain for the second line of all following stanzas.
4. Choose a word to precede that phrase, that can easily and sensibly be rhymed in all even numbered lines, in the same position.
5. If you are the extroverted type you may insert your name in the first line of the final couplet and/or provide a “turn” to the poem at this point.

Example Poem
Your Love   (Ghazal)
I  spent youth’s dawn just searching for your love;
no idealist, it need not be pure love.
An Idealist in every other way
I wanted shared devotion from your love.
I tried other girls as I searched for you,
but none did cleave so well until your love.
Your mind captured my mind, your body sang
to  mine. I  was fulfilled by your love.
I let unimportant matters intrude!
Lawrencealot, neglect cost you your love!
(c) Lawrencealot – April 5, 2012
Visual Template

Ghazal2

Harrisham Rhyme

This form created by Harrishma Minhas of Allpoetry.
 
This form consists of a six-line rhyming stanza.
In this form, the last letter of the first word of each line
is the first letter of the first word of next line.
Rhyming scheme : ababab.
There is no restriction on the starting letter of the first line.
No restriction upon line length or meter.
Invented by:  Harrisham Minhas
Example Poem
Stuck?              (Harrisham Rhyme)

Deoppilate exsuflicate concerns.
Enter some eximous and friendly verse 
removing problem words that meter spurns.
Get stuck during day?  Then try the reverse. 
Try to dinurate ’til the muse returns.
Yet a geck? Oh what the heck?  I’ve done worse.

© Lawrencealot – March 2, 2013
*Deopillate – remove an obstruction
*Exsuflicate – “something which is silly or trifling”
*Eximous “choice or excellent”
* Dinurate – sleep during the day
* Geck – 2. An object of scorn; a dupe; a gull
Visual Template

 

Individualtean

The individualtean is a form invented by chasingtheday of allpoetry.com.
In consists of 5 rhymed variable length stanzas
with the following end-rhyme pattern: abcbac def abcbac def gg
Rhyme may be perfect, slant or assonance.
Stanza 1 Consists of lines with 10/8/6/8/10/6 Syllables
Stanza 2 Consists of lines with 3/4/7 syllables
Stanza 3 Consists of lines with 10/8/6/8/10/6 Syllables
Stanza 4 Consists of lines with 3/4/7 syllables
Stanza 5 Is a couplet, each line with 10 syllables.
The form requires the ending syllable of lines 2 and 12 to rhyme with the first word of the following line.
In addition the last word of every stanza must rhyme with the first word of the following stanza.
There is NO requirement for any meter discipline.
Example Poem
Another Kiss Waitin’  (Individualtean)
Kisses tempt the strongest, noblest of men.
Indeed, all men are much moved by
Sighs, hugs, and words of care,
Still nothing lifts us quite so high–
Except knowing that kiss will come again,
Starving until it’s there.
Where my dear
inside my heart
resides the dreams of your lips?
Whips  and chains encumber some  and bring pain
Although with orders I comply
I bide my time I swear
Thinking of you kisses, Oh My!
Invigorated, treat hurts with disdain.
Nothing can bring despair.
Fair one, near
Or far I start
Remembering our hist’ry.
Memory of warm lips rewarded me.
Every time my feet brought me back to thee.
© Lawrencealot – August 13, 2012
This visual  template should help
Note: b-c in the rhyme indicator column, means that the
first word must use b-rhyme, the end-line must use c-rhyme.

Le Jeune

The Le Jeune Form:
Invented by Barb_Brown of Allpoetry.
Three to five  six line stanzas, where each line has 5 syllables
Each stanza is 6 lines
All lines are 5 syllables
Internal mono-rhyme at syllable 2 in lines 2 and 4 throughout the poem.
The Final word in each stanza is the same word, and must rhyme with the other mono-end-rhymes.
No meter required.
–  Three to five stanzas
–  Each stanza is 6 lines
–  All lines are isosyllabic – 5 syllables
Rhyme notes with parenthetic words from example:
1.  L2 and L4, W2 (a) in all stanzas rhymes (seen, mean, deem, etc.)
2.  L2 and L4, last word (b) in all stanzas rhymes (dismay, displays, gray, etc.).
3.  L6, W3 (c) in all stanzas rhymes (ease, please, seize)
4.  L6, last word (d) in all stanzas is the same word and must rhyme with #2 above. (day)
This example should help clarify:
Now!
Of hope comes much risk,
as seen in dismay.
Are you filled with shock,
so mean, these displays?
Gather all your wits
then to ease the day.
Of being human,
what deem you of gray?
Have you had thoughts of
odd schemes meant to stray?
Waste not a moment
then to please the day.
Of the dark of night,
in dreams do you stay?
Hide not in fear there,
nor demean your ways.
Draw on courage now,
then to seize the day!
by Barb Brown
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Lento

A poetic form created by Lencio Dominic Rodrigues, the Lento is named after it’s creator, taken from his first name Lencio and rhymed to Cento, an existing form of poetry.
A Lento consists of two quatrains with a fixed rhyme scheme of abcb, defe as the second and forth lines of each stanza must rhyme.  To take it a step further, but not required, try rhyming the first and third lines as well as the second and forth lines of each stanza in this rhyming pattern: abab, cdcd. (abcbdefe, ababcdcd)
The fun part of this poem is thrown in here as all the FIRST words of each verse should rhyme. There is no fixed syllable structure to the Lento, but keeping a good, flowing rhythm is recommended.
For an added challenge, one may write a four-verse Lento and call it a Double Lento, or a six-versed Lento to become a Triple Lento.
Below is an example of a Lento: (Formatting is instructional only)
Composed in winter of Two Thousand Five, (a)
Proposed by my dreams, this entire theme, (b)
Exposed now for all to write and have fun, (c)
Supposed to be easy though it doesn’t seem. (b)
Two verses of four lines each you will write, (d)
Do rhyme the beginning word in every line, (e)
Pursue to keep last rhymes in line 2 and 4, (f)
Chew your brain a little, you’ll do just fine! (e)
Example by Lawrencealot
Write a Lento
Designed in Two Thousand twelve with you in mind.
Refined to rhyme lines one and three (not required).
Aligned (also not required) but more refined,
Opined this poet.  Done because I so desired.
Write two verses of four lines each.  Be astute
right off the bat, rhyme lines two and four. They are
quite necessary, that one cannot refute.
Bright planning for first word rhyme will get you far.
© Lawrencealot – April 18, 2012
Visual Template

 

Luc Bat

The luc bat is a Vietnamese form of poetry.
It means simply “six eight” due to its pattern of syllables per line: 6,8,6,8,6,8, etc. There is no set length to the luc bat, so it can be as long or as short as you’d like.
But what really makes this form interesting is the rhyming structure, which sounds a little complicated but is easy to grasp in practice.
The sixth syllable of every eight-syllable line rhymes with the last syllable of the six-syllable line before it, which in turn rhymes with the eighth syllable of the eight-syllable line before it. When the end of the poem is reached, the last line jumps back and rhymes with the first. In other words, the syllables go like this:
* * * * * a
* * * * * a * b
* * * * * b
* * * * * b * c
* * * * * c
* * * * * c * d
* * * * * d
* * * * * d * a
…although of course the poem can be as long as you wish.
Remember that it is always the final line of the poem which
ends in the “a” rhyme, linking it back to the beginning
Example Poem
Farewell Denied
The ship I sailed and sank
those final years, was dank by then.
I tried to save her when
all hope seemed lost.  My men put out
in boats, and with a shout
“Farewell”, I set about to save
that ship in a nearby cave.
I was not really brave; just done.
I thought it might be one
small chance for grounding run in firth.
Slight chance to find some berth
I tried for what it’s worth, but failed.
Thru all the years I sailed,
and all the sirens hailed with cheer
I never thought I hear
one close until my dear, you found
me sinking soon to drown.
“I’d love for you to down here stay
and with this sprite now play,
but death to you that way I’ll stop.”
You brought me to the top.
A mortal life you swap to free
a mortal from the sea
although you wanted me to stay
I clung to life that day,
but thoughts of you held sway since then.
I’ll leave the world of men
and dive in where back then, I sank.
© Lawrencealot – August, 2012
Author just noted on review that this poem does
not comply to specifications and will be re-rewritten.
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