Wrapped Refrain Style 1

The Wrapped Refrain, created by Jan Turner, consists of 2 or more stanzas of 6 lines each; Meter:8,8,8,8,12,12 and Rhyme Scheme: a,a,b,b,c,c.

Refrain rule: In each stanza the first 4 syllables (or 4 single-syllable words) in the first line must be the last 4 syllables (or 4 single-syllable words) at the end of the last line. This is what wraps each stanza with a repeated refrain ...thus, the Wrapped Refrain.

Optional: The first stanza refrain and last stanza refrain can be joined (or loosely joined) together for the title of the poem.

Example #1:
Let’s Steal Away to Meet Again

Let’s steal away to some place cool,
     with rivulets that foam and pool
beneath a wooded, shady shore
     that frames the rocks with sycamore.
The afternoon has just begun; without delay,
let’s meet beneath the shaded sun...let’s steal away.

Let’s meet again where once we knew
     the buttercups with golden dew;
we scurried to our hidden spot
     where I recall forget-me-not.
And, we shall have the promised dreams that we did then,
as we revisit hideaways...let’s meet again.

Copyright © 2007 Jan Turner

Example #2:
A Chance Taken  (Wrapped Refrain)

Let's toss the dice while hormones rage.
although I'm bright I'm not a sage.
Escorting you I feel I've won
a treasure though we've just begun.
I've met your folks; they seem stable, loving, and nice.
That kind of template should suffice; let's toss the dice.

The dice were rolled and kids were born.
The raging cooled and you were torn
by boring days and nights alone.
I was at sea and could not phone.
Your searching started then; that's when the bells were tolled.
Though we parted since, I'm still glad the dice were rolled.

 © Lawrencealot - February 13, 2013


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