Octameter,
created by Shelley A. Cephas,
is
a poem made up of 16 lines
divided
into two stanzas of 8 lines each.
Each
line has a syllable count of 5.
The
set rhyme scheme is: a/b/c/d/e/d/f/d g/h/c/g/i/g/d/d.
I
found this form defined on Shadow Poetry.
Of
all the poetry forms I have studied none has been affixed with a more
misleading and potentially confusing name.
Example
Poem
T-aint
Octameter (Octameter)
Most mis-named form
seen--
the Octameter.
That's a standard
line
length measured in
feet.
I ambs, trochees,
such
which decide the
beat.
Confusing girth with
length was not too
neat.
It's an octastitch.
Can't quarrel at
all.
If this form were
mine
There'd be a name
switch.
Say.. an octapent;
gone the need to
bitch.
Current name is
scat,
Cephas should fix
that.
© Februrary 5, 2013
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It would be helpful to distinguish, in the rhyme scheme, lines that rhyme with others from lines that do not rhyme at all. For instance:
ReplyDeletea/b/C/D/e/D/f/D G/h/C/G/i/G/D/D
or more traditionally
x/x/c/d/x/d/x/d g/x/c/g/x/g/d/d
Thanks for your comment. I considered the x/x protocol option, but in my mind x/x/a/b implies that the first two lines need not rhyme with any other, BUT may, whereas the protocol chosen denies the possibility of any rhyme, removing it from the poet's option.
ReplyDeleteNote also. if the x option were invoked, it should be
x/x/a/b...etc not x/x/c/d...