The Seguidilla began as a popular dance song of Spain. The verse form was established and branched into variations by the 17th century. It has an alternating long short rhythm.
The Seguidilla is:
• stanzaic, written in any number of 2 part septets. (7 lines)
• syllabic, 7-5-7-5 : 5-7-5 per line. There is a slight pause between L4 and L5 suggesting L4 should be end-stopped.
• rhymed by assonance xaxabxb or xaxabab. x being unrhymed. True rhyme is generally not used.
• composed with a volta or change in thought between L4 and L5.
• sometimes serves as a conclusion for another verse.
Pase Doble by Judi Van Gorder
The rapid click of slick heels
pounding on the boards,
play a staccato death knell
for life never mourned.
The red of his cape,
a splash of blood on the floor,
the matador’s fate. .
Pasted from http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?showtopic=1014
My thanks to Judi Van Gorder for years of work on this fine PMO resource.
My Example
(Form: Seguidilla)
Cueca Chilena Dance
He with boots and spurs and cape,
She in flowing dress,
(Cumbia, perhaps), and heels.
Hat upon his head.
Both will kick and stamp
their feet and twirl kerchiefs while
caught up in the dance.
© Lawrencealot – January 21, 2015
Photo Credit https://latindancehistory.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/la-cueca/
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