Echo Sonnets

Type: Structure, meter, isosyllabic, rhyme, refrain

Description: The echo sonnet, created by Jeff Green, is similar to the kyrielle sonnet in that it consists of three quatrains and a heroic couplet. The last line of each quatrain (A2) and the couplet is the refrain line which can be a repeated whole line, phrase or end word. The first line of the first quatrain (A1)also repeats as the first line of the couplet. The form has a rhyme scheme and is preferably composed of lines of iambic pentameter.

Rhyme Scheme: A1bbA2 accA2 addA2 A1A2

Line Length: Decasyllabic

Poem Length: 14 lines

Example:

The Bridge of Dreams by Jeff Green

Each night inside a dream you walk with me
To lands where past and future fade away
Where everything is lost in just one day
The clouds have built a bridge across the sea

I learned to live a dream so we could be
The walkers on that road to everywhere
A perfect life that lovers seldom share
The clouds now carry us across the sea

With head upon the pillow I am free
To hold you as my own for evermore
We'll be together on that distant shore
The clouds have built a ship to cross the sea

Each night inside a dream you walk with me
Upon the bridge of ships that's crossed the sea

Resources:

http://allpoetry.com/list/59666-Echo-Sonnets

© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.

Bowlesian Sonnet

Type: Metric; Structure; Isosyllabic; Rhyme Scheme

Description: An English style sonnet in that it is three quatrains and a heroic couplet, but the quatrains are Italian rather than Sicilian in their rhyme schemes. Pivot somewhere between lines 9 and 13. Created by William Lisle Bowles

Schematic: abba cddc effe gg

Meter: iambic

Line length: pentameter

Form Notation:

xXxXxXxXxa
xXxXxXxXxb
xXxXxXxXxb
xXxXxXxXxa

xXxXxXxXxc
xXxXxXxXxd
xXxXxXxXxd
xXxXxXxXxc

xXxXxXxXxe
xXxXxXxXxf
xXxXxXxXxf
xXxXxXxXxe

xXxXxXxXxg
xXxXxXxXxg


Poem Length: 14 lines

Example:

Bereavement by William Lisle Bowles

Whose was that gentle voice, that, whispering sweet,
Promised me thought long days of bliss sincere!
Soothing it stole on my deluded ear,
Most like soft music, that might sometimes cheat.

Thoughts dark and drooping! 'Twas the voice of Hope.
Of love and social scenes, it seemed to speak,
Of truth, of friendship, of affection meek;
That, oh! poor friend, might to life's downward slope

Lead us in peace, and bless are latest hours.
Ah me! the prospect saddened as she sung;
Loud on my startled ear the death bell rung;
Chill darkness wrapt the pleasurable bowers,

Whilst Horror pointing to yon breathless clay,
'No peace be thine,' exclaimed, 'away, away!'

© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.

Terza Rima Sonnet

Type: Isosyllabic, meter, rhyme, repetition.

Description: Written in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme that line 2 of each stanza rhymes of lines 1 and 3 of the following stanza. In the closing couplet both lines rhyme with line 2 of the preceding tercet as well a repeat lines 1 and 3 of the first.

Schema: A(1)bA(2), bcb, cdc, dad, A(1)A(2)

Poem length: 14 lines

© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.

Bref Double

Type: structure, rhyme, isosyllabic Description: A 14 line French form composed of 3 quatrains and a couplet, all isosyllabic. It has three rhymes a, b and c and 5 lines that are not part of the rhyme schema. The c rhyme ends each quatrain, and the a and b rhymes are both found twice within the 3 quatrains and once each in the couplet. Rhyme Schema: abxc abxc xxxxc ab xaxc xbxc xbac ab xabc xaxc xbxc zb etc. Poem Length: 14 lines


© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.

Balesian Sonnet

Type: structure, meter, rhyme, isosyllabic  

Description: an English-style sonnet in that it is three quatrains and a heroic couplet, but the quatrains are Italian rather than Sicilian in their rhyme schemes. Pivot somewhere between lines 9 and 13.

Schematic: Rhyme: abba cddc effe gg

                   Pivot: lines 9-13

Poem Length: 14 lines.
© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.

Acrostic Poetry

Type: Structure, other requirement

Description: The acrostic is a special requirement poem. The first letter of each line spells out a word, name or phrase.

Schematic:   L1xxx…
                    L2xxx…
                    L3xxx… and so on

Line Length: There is no standard line length.

Poem Length: As long as the word, phrase or message.

Examples:

An Acrostic
by Edgar Allan Poe

Elizabeth it is in vain you say
"Love not" — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
In vain those words from thee or L.E.L.
Zantippe's talents had enforced so well:
Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,
Breath it less gently forth — and veil thine eyes.
Endymion, recollect, when Luna tried
To cure his love — was cured of all beside —
His follie — pride — and passion — for he died.


Fire and Pride
 by Jem Farmer

Fiercely won in humility,
Independence of conceptual thought,
Remains the writer’s ambition
Evoked by words drifting to line and verse.

Ambiguous acts of governments
Nurtured contempt and fear of the quill
Demands for freedom lie silenced.

Personal battles fought with the pen
Rights wrestled from censors,
Inventive imaginations born in free creativity
Deviant poets voices will be heard
Evolving in openness to reveal artistic flow


© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.

Brace Octave

Type: structure, rhyme, stanzaic

Description: an eight-line stanza form with end of line rhyme scheme. There is no meter or line length requirement

Schematic: Rhyme: abbaabba
abbacddc

Poem Length: octave

© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.