Empat Empat

Empat Empat form poetry

Early form of rhyming verse from Malaysia.

Four Four line stanza

Stair case refrain of line 1

Meter:  8 or 10 syllable per line - though I have see it with but 4

Rhyme Scheme   Abab cAca adAd eaeA

Example Poem

Sentry Pup       (Empat Empat)

While set on pause I'm actively alert.

My ears are peaked and will not miss a sound.

I'll rest my head on any shoe or shirt

or artifact of master's that I've found.

Though not so big, or armed with mighty jaws,

while set on pause I'm actively alert.

I hear the flapping crows and hear their caws

and I ignore the sounds that cannot hurt.

I'll sense intruders, stealthy and covert

I am a biological alarm.

While set on pause I'm actively alert.

Protecting all from things that may cause harm.

When not on paws' I'm set with throttle full

to romp with my boy through the grass and dirt,

to chase a ball of find some thing to pull.

While set on pause I'm actively alert.

  © Lawrencealot - March 10, 2013

Visual Template

Quatern

The Quatern is a French form that consists of four quatrains (4-line stanzas),

with 8 syllables in each line.

The first line of stanza 1 is repeated as a refrain line

as the second line of stanza 2, 

the third line of stanza 3 and the last line of stanza 4.

There is no set meter or rhyme scheme.

Possible rime schemes  -  virtually any are ok

i. Abab, cAca, adAd, eaeA

ii. Aabb, aAbb, bbAa, bbaA

iii. Axax, xAxa, axAx, xaxA

Example Poem

Write a Quatern

This line shall serve as a refrain.

Each stanza moves it down again.

This form is in tetrameter,

but may be done pentameter.

      

Though that does go against the grain.

This line shall serve as a refrain.

The first two lines were fine iambs,

But in the next, that meter scrams.

      

No meter is required at all

which makes choosing good words, a ball.

This line shall serve as a refrain.

Rhyming with refrain is no strain.

     

Just two more lines will do the trick.

Then we are finished pretty quick

You're forced to "a" rhyme once again.

This line shall serve as a refrain.

© Lawrencalot - April 1, 2012

Visual Template