Tag Archives: sestets

Teddy Poem

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Teddy Poem
Type:
Structure, Subject, Metrical Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Other Requirement, Isosyllabic
Description:
A fixed form of three six-line verses summed up by an orphan couplet. All lines are in alexandrines. Rhyme scheme is aabbcc. There is an additional starter line which is, “Many, many years ago when Teddy was much younger than today…” The starter line occasionally varies slightly. The topic of these poems is always the adventures of a certain Theodore E. Bear, or Teddy as he is better known, who was created in the Garden of Eden, and having found the Fountain of Youth is immortal and eternally youthful.
Attributed to:
“The Dread Poet Roberts”
Origin:
American
Schematic:
Rhyme and line pattern: x aabbcc ddeeff gghhii jj
Meter: xX xX xX xX xX xX, or
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Rhythm/Stanza Length:
6
Line/Poem Length:
21
Reference:
See Also:
My Thanks to Charles L. Weatherford for this most complete description that I could find.
Example Poem and Visual Template
Ode to Theodore E. Bear     (Teddy Poem)
Many, Many years ago when Teddy was much younger than today…
For many, many, years- and I have now lost count
young Theodore E. Bear, went searching for the fount!
The fountain that he found- it grants perpetual youth.
He’s  been around forever- should be long of tooth.
That he has found it- any children will attest,
as silently he speaks, and puts them to their rest.
He dresses up in dresses, or may wear a bow.
He doesn’t mind cross-dressing, that much all of us know.
He may don a railroad cap or a Smokey hat,
or ‘bear’ soft messages, that tell of this and that.
He’s never embarrassed to go nude as it were
and sit about quite proudly, wearing only fur.
He goes with first responders – he’s most often there-
to mitigate the panic- temper their despair.
While firemen fight the blaze- before the clean-up starts,
kids will cling to Teddy, a balm for frightened hearts.
If they sustain an “Owie”,that requires a shot-
with Teddy there the pin-prick’s pain is soon forgot.
And when things are all peachy, Teddy you will find
as husband’s ways of saying “Thanks I’m glad you’re mine.”
© Lawrencealot – February 8, 2014

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Inverted Refrain

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  • Inverted Refrain is an invented form found at Shadow Poetry, created by the winner of their 2007 Chap Book Competition, Jan Turner and published in Faery Folk and Fireflies.
    I believe the form took its name from the rhetorical device, “inverted refrain”, originally used by the ancient Greek poet Sappho. “Inverted refrain” is a writing technique in which the syntax of a line is reversed. eg ..the Sapphic line “I know not what to do”. I am not sure that the composition instruction at Shadow Poetry exactly fits the literary definition of “inverted refrain” but the form could still be a fun challenge to conquer as long as it enhances the delivery of the poet’s thoughts,    The Inverted Refrain as an invented verse form is:

    • stanzaic, written in any number of sixains, made up of a quatrain followed by an indented couplet.
    • syllabic, all lines are 8 syllables.
    • rhymed, rhyme scheme ababab or ababba, cdcdcd or cdcddc etc….
    • composed in the following manner, “the first four lines of a stanza create a statement from which the last 2 lines extract the meaning, and invert the way it is said.” Jan Turner @Shadow Poetry
  • Finding Faeries by Jan Turner (stanza 1) the whole poem can be read at Shadow Poetry.
    A sprinkling shine of faery dust
    is mica-layered on the rocks
    Pretending to be nature’s crust
    It really is a paradox:
    ——— A paradox of mica rocks
    ——— From faery dust on nature’s crust.
Many thanks to Judi Van Gorder of PMO (PoetryMagnumOpus) for maintaining a wonderful resouce site.
 
Example Poem
White Man’s Heaven      (Inverted Refrain)
He didn’t know about the Lord
so was exempt from Cath’lic hell.
The church tried bringing him aboard
but he was fallible and fell.
        Instead of finding Lord’s reward
        he now in mortal fear must dwell.
© Lawrencealot – November 28, 2013
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Rosetti Stanza poetry forms

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This is not a formally named poetry form, but instead a form used by Christina Rossetti, and brought to the attention of Allpoetry poets by Streambed.  I am simply giving forms a name for ease of reference as we play with them.

There are two distinct versions each with a separate syllable and rhyme pattern. Both are syllabic, rhymed sestets, and may stand as one or more stanzazs.

Version 1:  Syllabic 8/6/8/6/4/8, Rhyme Scheme: abaaba
Version 2:  Syllabic 7/6/7/7/6/7, Rhyme Scheme: ababba

Example Poem

As Others See You  (Rossetti Stanza)

If I could give a gift to you, 
to all mankind in fact, 
‘twould be to let you see the view 
of others quite exact 
eschewing tact, 
not colored by some social hue. 

You’d see what causes some to think 
you’re perfectly divine, 
and see the power in your wink 
or fear from a frown line, 
that some may assign 
when face and thought are not in sync.

© Lawrencealot – October 16, 2013

The visual template will clarify:

Alouette poetry form

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The Alouette, created by Jan Turner,
consists of two or more stanzas of 6 lines each, (12 lines or more)
with the following set rules:
Syllabic: 5/5/7/5/5/7
Rhyme Scheme:  aabccb
The form name is a French word meaning ‘skylark’ or larks that fly high,
the association to the lark’s song being appropriate for the musical quality
of this form. The word ‘alouette’ can also mean a children’s song
(usually sung in a group), and although this poetry form is not necessarily
for children’s poetry (but can be applied that way), it is reminiscent of
that style of short lines.  Preference for the meter accent is on the
third syllable of each line.
Example Poem
Visual Template
Regrets
I’m not satisfied
and my dreams have died.
I wanted to do much more.
I lived for the day,
then you went away,
Now I long for distant shore.
My clock’s running out,
I’ve cancer and gout,
but I’m prosperous and free.
My wealth they could keep
if I could but sleep
close to you, across the sea.
© Lawrencealot – April 18,2012
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BushBallad Meter

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Informal name created by Mary Boren Sullivan, aka Meter_Maid on Allpoetry.com.
Am adding it so others can have a go at a delightful metric experience.
OK, that’s not the official name for it, but this particular rhyme scheme & metrical pattern echoes of thundering hooves, which makes me think of Banjo Paterson.  If you’re stuck in iambic mode, it’s a good way to break free.
The form lends itself to light verse, but is versatile enough to support serious topics as well.  The meter is anapestic, as follows, presented in six-line stanzas with a rhyme scheme of aabccb.
ta da DUM / ta da DUM / da
ta DUM / ta da DUM / da
ta DUM /  ta da DUM / ta da DUM
If it feels more natural, you can substitute with an iamb for the first foot and/or move the feminine trailing syllables into the next line, like so …
ta DUM / ta da DUM
ta da DUM / ta da DUM
ta da DUM /  ta da DUM / ta da DUM 
Example Poem
Unfriended
My words are exacting
yours simply distracting
You argue in circles, at best.
You think that deceiving
just  ‘cus you’re believing
Is okay, your  thinking is blessed.
Now, when you disparage
an old friend’s new marriage
or put down another’s good work
or put on two faces
when speaking of races,
you’re behavior drives me berserk.
I’m mostly quite friendly,
but  if in the end we
diverge so in our views, my friend,
though I’ll still be mellow
and a jolly fellow,
I reckon our friendship will end.
© Lawrencealot – April, 2012
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dandizette

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Dandizette form created by discoveria of Allpoetry.com
3 six line stanzas
the form is partially inspired by the villanelle, and features a tricky repetition of four refrain lines in the final stanza.
the syllable count for the first twostanzas  is  8/6/8/8/6/8.
The last stanza has lines of  6/6/6/6/8/8 syllables.
The rhyme scheme is ababcb cbcdcd bcbcee. (ababcbcbcdcdbcbcee)
The final stanza is composed of lines 2, 5, 8, 11 from the previous two stanzas, plus a concluding rhyming couplet.
Where they reappear in the last stanza, the four repeated lines should make sense together as well as making sense where they are first used. Meter is optional.
Example Poem
Beneath the Dancing Lights  (Dandizette)
Every fellow  here wants first dance.
She is a lovely tease
though proper for a girl from France.
With her shape she does dress to please
with bodice cut so low.
‘Twould be a thrill to watch her sneeze.
Tonight the breeze will lightly blow
outside beneath the trees
the lights will swing and sway as though
they are dancing too.  As on stage
in dancing lights she’ll glow.
She’ll attract men of any age.
She is a lovely tease
with bodice cut so low.
Outside beneath the trees
in dancing lights she’ll glow.
She will light up many man’s life.
And she’ll tick off many a wife.
(c) Lawrencealot – March 2, 2012
Visual Template

Le Jeune

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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
Visual Template

 

Roundelay

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There is some confusion online as to the meaning of the term “roundelay,” with some references confusing it with the French “rondelet” and others describing it as any poem with a refrain. Actually, the roundelay, rondelet, rondeau, rondel, and other similar sounding poems all spring from a common French origin, but are all very different in contemporary use. The roundelay’s many repeating couplets and limited rhymes can make it a difficult form to write, but as with many successful poems with refrains, can also make for profound or esoteric poetry.
The roundelay consists of four sestets (six-line stanzas) made up of twelve repeating couplets (two-line stanzas, one of which repeats as each stanza’s last two lines. The stanzas’ couplets A,B,C,D ,E and R (the continuing refrain) combine in the following pattern:
A B R … B C R … C D R … D E R
So, in the second stanza, “B C R” represents six-lines (three couplets), with couplet “B” repeating from the first stanza, couplet “C” repeating in the following stanza, and its last couplet “R” repeating as every stanza’s last two lines. In addition, each couplet’s first line rhymes with other couplets’ first lines and all second lines rhyme with each other as well, making the rhyme scheme:
a-b-a-b-a-b … a-b-a-b-a-b … a-b-a-b-a-b … a-b-a-b-a-b
Remember that in a rhyming pattern, lines ending in a sound designated by “a” only rhyme with other “a” lines, “b” lines only with other “b” lines, and so on.
Trochaic tetrameter (four feet of “DUM-dah” per line, see “Meter”) is a requirement, but it is permissible for some of the lines to be one syllable short.

Related forms: Dryden’s Roundelay, Rondelet, Roundelay, Termelay

 
Example Poem
Write a Roundelay
Write in Trochees, DUM da sounding.
Search for words with good rhyme rating.
Rhymes once used will be compounding.
Words that fit will be elating.
Couplets through the verse, go bounding.
stuck together as though dating.
Rhymes once used will be compounding.
Words that fit will be elating.
Doubters now you’ll be confounding.
Roundelays you’re now creating.
Couplets through the verse, go bounding.
stuck together as though dating.
Doubters now you’ll be confounding.
Roundelays you’re now creating.
Couplets you composed.. astounding.
Each of them adds their own weighting.
Couplets through the verse, go bounding.
stuck together as though dating.
Couplets you composed.. astounding.
Each of them adds their own weighting.
I’m glad this poem is abating.
This is getting aggravating.
Couplets through the verse go bounding.
stuck together as though dating.
Visual Template

 

Tri-Fall

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Tri-fall                                                                
The Tri-fall, created by Jan Turner,                                         
consists three 6-line stanzas, for a total of 18 lines.                         
 
Rhyme Scheme: abcabc                                        
Line-length  for each stanza is as follows: 6/3/8/6/3/8.          
Meter optional
                                                
This form requires little to no punctuation and can be written on any subject matter.     
 
Example Poem
 
  Surrender
 
Her passion was too much.
Now it’s gone.
She condemned, deplored all abuse.
She praised the thrill of touch.
We’ll bear on.
The jealous piled on, no excuse.
 
Her life was filled with hurt.
despite that,
or because of it, she performed
as an erotic flirt.
When at-bat
she homered passion unreformed.
 
Some men became aroused,
not content
to live within her fantasies,
and when requests were doused
time was spent
in fighting her apostasies.
 
 
 
© Lawrencealot – Aug 23, 2012    
Written about a very real AP Poet.
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