Swinburne Octain

This is a refrain poem, the form was one of many un-named forms invented by

Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909).

I  have interpreted the specifications from looking at the work of one of Swinburne's most dedicated students, AP's own Eusebius.

There are at least TWO significant versions of an octain he created.  This first, presented here is  written in iambi meter, the second  written in trochaic.  The is the first:

Rhyming pattern: ABccabAB, where the capital letter indicate verbatim repetition of a line.

The "b" rhymes are all iambic trimeter,  all other lines  are feminine rhymes utilizing footless (or catalectic) iambic tetrameter.

The first stanza, is repeated as the final stanza of the poem, thus it seems sensible that the minimum poem length should be at least four stanzas.

The Trochaic version is written with the

Rhyming pattern: ababcccb

Syllabic: 9/8/9/8/9/9/9/8

The accent is as two trochee feet, an amphibrach and a trochee with all "b" rhymes being catalectic.

Example Poem

The Tart     (Swinburne Octain)

This tart so thin, bewitching, 

with beauty, fay and pale. 

Her tattoos all parading, 

Her ebon curls cascading, 

until I am just itching 

to see her all in Braille. 

This tart so thin, bewitching, 

with beauty, fay and pale. 

She seems an apparition 

both siren myth and tramp, 

who sells her pleasures cheaply 

to those who want her deeply. 

I feel I must audition 

to win time with this vamp. 

She seems an apparition 

both siren myth and tramp, 

Her long smooth legs inviting 

all who may simply glance. 

Though men might once demean her 

they'll dare not come between her 

and one she is inviting. 

Each man would like his chance. 

Her long smooth legs inviting 

all who may simply glance. 

To me she whispered lightly,

"I'll show you realms of love." 

Her word were most insightful 

Her movements were delightful 

I longed to have her nightly 

beneath the moon above. 

To me she whispered lightly,

"I'll show you realms of love." 

This tart so thin, bewitching, 

with beauty, fay and pale. 

Her tattoos all parading, 

Her ebon curls cascading, 

until I am just itching 

to see her all in Braille. 

This tart so thin, bewitching, 

with beauty, fay and pale. 

© Lawrencealot - June 17, 2013

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