Sunday, September 11, 2005

Triolet

The triolet is a tight little form, with enough repeating lines that, once you write a good couplet, the rest of the poem is not too far off.

Triolet (TREE-uh-lit, -lay) noun:

A poem or stanza of eight lines, having a rhyme scheme ABaAabAB, in
which the first, fourth, and seventh lines are the same, and second
is the same as the eighth line.

Here's an interesting link. And here is my lame attempt:


Can’t Swim, Can’t Whistle, Can’t Dance

Can’t swim. Can’t whistle. Can’t dance.
Obviously, we were meant for each other,
though anyone can see we both wear pants
and can’t swim, can’t whistle, can’t dance.
Such things should not be left to chance.
Who’d’ve guessed we’d be happiest with a lover
who can’t swim, can’t whistle, can’t dance?
Obviously, we were meant for each other.

1 comment:

Lorna Dee Cervantes said...

Hi Peter,

Thanks for this. I tried a couple and even wrote a villanelle for New Orleans, all posted on my blog this morning. Grief seems to need to find a form.

Nice triolet. You should try one for Valentine's Day, or your anniversary.