The English word quinzaine come from the French word qunize, meaning fifteen. A quinzaine is an unrhymed verse of fifteen syllables. These syllables are distributed among three lines so that there are seven syllables in the first line, five in the second line and three in the third line (7/5/3). The first line makes a statement. The next…
P: Pantoum
A pantoum is a Malaysian verse form adapted by French poets and occasionally imitated in English. It comprises a series of quatrains, with the second and fourth lines of each quatrain repeated as the first and third lines of the next. The second and fourth lines of the final stanza repeat the first and third…
O: Oddquain
An Oddquain is a short, usually unrhymed poem consisting of seventeen syllables distributed 1, 3, 5, 7, 1in five lines, developed by Glenda L. Hand. Cry no more tears in the looking glass all you need is to be you. Pure.
N: Nocturna
Nocturna has an interesting history. The word was first used by Christians and was a form of night prayers. Later, it appeared in the 18th century and was derived from the French ‘nocturnal’ and was usually music inspired by the night and played at evening parties. During that time poetry was also recited. The painter…
Questions #NaPoWriMo
A week ago we visited Tadoba, a national forest for the preservation of tigers. we saw many tigers in their natural habital, roaming wild and free which is always a thrilling experience. But while on the long safaris, there was every type of flora and fauna. The long, bumpy rides in the open gypsy, the…
M: Mirrored Refrain
The Mirrored Refrain is rhyming verse form constructed by Stephanie Repnyek. The poem is formed by three or more quatrains where two lines within the quatrain are the “mirrored refrain” or alternating refrain. FORTIFICATIONS Disdainful stares wash over me as I chisel my block of stone I am a scavenger of this earth seeking to…
L: Lai.
A Lai is a very old French poetry form. It looks to be simple, comprising of a five syllabled couplet followed by a two syllable line. The number of lines in each stanza is fixed at 9 and the coupltets must rhyme with each other as must the two syllable lines. Speaking for myself, as…
K: Katauta
The Katauta is an unrhymed Japanese form of poetry consisting of 17 or 19 syllables. The poem is a three-lined poem with the following syllable counts: 5/7/5 or 5/7/7 what is it you say when you do not say a word branding my soul with your eyes quietly you leave as quietly as you came only your…
J: John Tee Sonnet
The John Tee sonnet (http://thepoetsgarret.com/2016Challenge/form24.html) is a free verse version of the Rondel Prime Sonnet. Scattered. White clouds scatter like balls of cotton last night’s dreams almost forgotten From the window of this short flight I watch my thoughts dissolve in light floating in skies impossibly blue my thoughts invariably turn to you. White clouds…
I: Imagery
Imagery: Elements of a poem that invoke any of the five senses to create a set of mental images. Specifically, using vivid or figurative language to represent ideas, objects, or actions. WORDS We had words. Some bitter some sharp Some that soured on our tongues Even as they curled out our mouths. I imagine us in a bougainvilleaed…
H: Half measure
Half measure poems are a variation of the Common Measure. This is not a new poem but I had fun doing this! The Bartender Did It. “what’s your poison?” asked the barman I didn’t need to think Whisky” I mumbled amiably “Yes that is my drink!” “Caol isla or Laphroig, Or is it Blenders Pride?”…
Sunshine
Day three of a Safari holiday hunting tigers the day’s rides are done, I lazily watch As the tourists chatter excitedly the first flush of seeing tigers in the wild the faces red from a long day in the sun bucket list ticked off, all said and done. The skies are a brilliant azure the…
