La'Tuin LaFemme

This form created by Lawrence Eberhart, aka Lawrencelot  

      

It is an altered version of the La'Tuin form to facilitate feminine rhyming.           

The La’Tuin, a poetic form created by Laura Lamarca,        

The La'Tuin is named after A'Tuin, a giant turtle from the        

Diskworld series. A turtle is a symbol of Mother Earth.         

La is Laura Lamarca's signature.        

        

It contains a minimum of 4 stanzas, with no maximum length limit.                       

A strict syllable count of 9/8/9/8 is required per stanza.                 

It has abac rhyme consitent through-out the stanza.                

Lines 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16 etc., all rhyme - this is the 'A' rhyme.                 

Lines 2, 6, 10, 14 etc, all rhyme - this is the 'B' rhyme.                 

Lines 3, 7, 11, 15 etc, all rhyme - this is the 'C' rhyme.                

        

Therein lies it's structural weakness. By requiring that the  9 syllable lines rhyme with 8 syllable lines,  if the poet choose iambic (or trochaic) meter it disallows a more natural and pleasing feminine rhyme.        

        

The improved rhyming scheme of the QuatrainLaFemme is:        

A B A2 C   abac  abac  …  AB A2 B C  

Example Poem

More Ladies-in-Waiting

The wives of Henry were all waiting

Their turn to be axed or booted 

while extracurricular mating

was Henry's favored night-time sport. 

        

Except for queen Kath'rine, the grating

was less ironically suited, 

for the others all been creating

their turns by schemings at the court.. 

        

Kath'rine loved Henry, while awaiting

her end, but strongly refuted, 

his claims, yet without denigrating

him.  Majestic was her support.. 

        

The wives of Henry were all waiting

Their turn to be axed or booted 

while extracurricular mating

was Henry's favored night-time sport. 

(c) Lawrencealot - April 9, 2012

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