Slide Ballad

This form was invented by Larry Eberhart, aka, Lawrencealot 

and dedicated to Victoria Sutton, aka, Passionspromise, inventor of the Slide Sonnet.

Slide Ballad consists of 6 or more quatrains in common meter

Rhyme pattern

xaxa

xbxb

xcxc

xdxd

xaxa

xbxb

xcxc

xaxa

The rhyme of first stanza to be repeated every fifth stanza, and as the final stanza,

Only the a-rhymes must rhyme in each stanza

Where the a-lines in the final stanza are made up of segments from

the preceding a-lines, see template and example

Feminine rhyme is permitted as exception to common meter.

Example Poem

Soldier   (Slide Ballad)

There was no way he'd fail to join

the fight, and stay and play

while others wore the uniform

and gave their lives away.

His parents' view, was fearful but,

all hoped he'd make it through.

His Margie said "You'll come back, Joe,"

I'll wait until you do.

The war ground on, relentlessly,

'til many friends were gone.

Some missing limbs went home.  Some stayed,

interred 'neath foreign lawn.

Joe suffered grave injuries twice,

from those who would enslave.

He returned to fight each time - saying,

"It's not because I'm brave.

I want to stay until we win,

We shall ,I hope and pray.

I cannot set aside my role

while evil still holds sway.

He was the last left living now

behind the lines when fast

advancing  enemy took charge,

and then the battle passed.

'Twas only he the farmer found

a live, but bound to be

a corpse if left. The farmer cared

with quiet dignity.

Another year elapsed; he healed,

and hid and helped them clear

their crops,  He learned some French and learned

the end of war was near.

There was no way to thank his friends

who'd risked their lives that way.

I'll fetch my Marge, then we'll return;

We shall ,I hope and pray.

  © Lawrencealot - January 8, 2013

Visual Template