Quadrilew

Created by C. G. V. Lewis, the Quadrilew is a form of quatrain poem
 with an abab rhyming scheme, repeating lines, and contains an alternating syllable structure.

.

This is a stanzaic, form requiring 4 quatrains.
It is syllabic with two forms, either 5/6/5/6  repeating or 6/5/6/5 repeating.
Minimum 16 lines, No meter specified.
Refrains: The Nth line of the first quatrain is the first line of the Nth quatrain.

In the first verse, the poet may either start with a five or six syllable line.
The poem requires FOUR quatrains

Rhyme pattern: aBAB2 Baba Abab B2aba, when the capitalized letters represent the three refrain lines.



VERSE ONE,
Line 1, 5 syllables.
Line 2, 6 syllables.
Line 3, 5 syllables.
Line 4, 6 syllables.

VERSE TWO,
Line 1, (which is a REPEAT of line 2 of the FIRST verse) has 6 syllables.
Line 2 new line of 5 syllables
Line 3 new line of 6 syllables
Line 4 new line of 5 syllables.

VERSE THREE,
Line 1, (which is a REPEAT of line 3 of the first verse) has 5 syllables.
Line 2 new line of 6 syllables.
Line 3 new line of 5 syllables.
Line 4 new line of 6 syllables.

VERSE FOUR,
Line 1, (which is a REPEAT of line 4 of the first verse) has 6 syllables.
Line 2 new line of 5 syllables.
Line 3 new line of 6 syllables.
Line 4 new line of 5 syllables.

If the first line of verse one has 6 syllables then the pattern is
Verse 1, 6565,
Verse 2, 5656,
Verse 3, 6565,
Verse 4 5656: (the rhyme pattern still being abab.)

If wishing to create a longer poem then the next verse (5)
must be a completely fresh set of four lines,
these being used as before in the following three verses.

Example Poem

My Goat   (Quadrilew)

My goat can't pedal yet.

My goat likes to ride

when we go to the vet.

He likes apples fried.

My goat likes to ride

buses, trains, and , you bet

cars-- on the inside!

(He don't like gettin' wet. )

When we go to the vet

He climbs up astride

my back and that's no sweat.

my goat's satisfied.

He likes apples fried

if appetite's been whet.

Laughs he will provide,

he's more a friend than pet.

© Lawrencealot - Janyary 20,2016

Visual Template

This is the 5/6 option

This is th 6/5 option