Inverted Refrain

• Inverted Refrain is an invented form found at Shadow Poetry, created by the winner of their 2007 Chap Book Competition, Jan Turner and published in Faery Folk and Fireflies.
  I believe the form took its name from the rhetorical device, "inverted refrain", originally used by the ancient Greek poet Sappho. “Inverted refrain” is a writing technique in which the syntax of a line is reversed. eg ..the Sapphic line "I know not what to do". I am not sure that the composition instruction at Shadow Poetry exactly fits the literary definition of “inverted refrain” but the form could still be a fun challenge to conquer as long as it enhances the delivery of the poet’s thoughts,
  
  The Inverted Refrain as an invented verse form is:
• stanzaic, written in any number of sixains, made up of a quatrain followed by an indented couplet.
• syllabic, all lines are 8 syllables.
• rhymed, rhyme scheme ababab or ababba, cdcdcd or cdcddc etc….
• composed in the following manner, "the first four lines of a stanza create a statement from which the last 2 lines extract the meaning, and invert the way it is said." Jan Turner @Shadow Poetry

• Finding Faeries by Jan Turner (stanza 1) the whole poem can be read at Shadow Poetry.
  A sprinkling shine of faery dust
  is mica-layered on the rocks
  Pretending to be nature's crust
  It really is a paradox:
  --------- A paradox of mica rocks
  --------- From faery dust on nature's crust.

Pasted from <http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?/topic/1195-found-at-shadow-poetry/>

Many thanks to Judi Van Gorder of PMO (PoetryMagnumOpus) for maintaining a wonderful resouce site.

Example Poem

White Man's Heaven      (Inverted Refrain)

He didn't know about the Lord

so was exempt from Cath'lic hell.

The church tried bringing him aboard

but he was fallible and fell.

        Instead of finding Lord's reward

        he now in mortal fear must dwell.

© Lawrencealot - November 28, 2013

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Florette

The Florette, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more stanzas for either of the two versions.

Version 1 - Quatrain Stanazas

Rhyme scheme: aaba , with interlaced rhyme in line four, where

                           syllable eight shares the "b" rhyme.

 Syllabic:           8,8,8,12 

Meter:               Iambic

Version 5 - Quintet Stanazas

Rhyme scheme:  aabba 

 Syllabic:             8,8,8,12 

Meter:                 Iambic

Sample Poem

Meeting for a Drink     (Florette)

While sitting near my fountain dear,

a pretty yellow finch appeared.

When he came by to say hello

it thrilled me much to simply know I wasn't feared.

He looked at me and seemed quite wise,

as seeing me was no surprise;

he groomed his feathers, and seemed to think,

then bowed to me and took a drink, just us two guys.

© Lawrencealot - November 28, 2013

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Alouette

The Alouette, created by Jan Turner,
consists of two or more stanzas of 6 lines each,
with the following set rules:
Meter: 5, 5, 7, 5, 5, 7
Rhyme Scheme: a, a, b, c, c, b

The form name is a French word meaning 'skylark' or larks that fly high,
the association to the lark's song being appropriate for the musical quality
of this form. The word 'alouette' can also mean a children's song
(usually sung in a group), and although this poetry form is not necessarily
for children's poetry (but can be applied that way), it is reminiscent of
that style of short lines.  Preference for the meter accent is on the
third syllable of each line.

Example Poem


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Regrets

I'm not satisfied
and my dreams have died.
I wanted to do much more.
I lived for the day,
then you went away,
Now I long for distant shore.

My clock's running out,
I've cancer and gout,
but I'm prosperous and free.
My wealth they could keep
if I could but sleep
close to you, across the sea.

© Lawrencealot - April 18,2012


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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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Wrapped Refrain Style 2

Wrapped Refrain (Form No. 2), created by Jan Turner, carries some similar aspects as her Wrapped Refrain form, with further advanced techniques. It consists of 2 or more stanzas of 8 lines each, with the following set rules:

Meter: 14, 14, 8, 8, 8, 8, 14, 14
Rhyme Scheme: a,a,b,b,c,c,d,d

Refrain rule: In each stanza, the first 10 syllables in the first line (incorporating a phrase) must be the last 10 syllables at the end of the last line (line #8).
Example #1:
Castle in the Clouds

Bavaria, you render dreams come true on hills of white.
Your castle glints through moonbeams, snowy spires in the night.
My mind says it’s just a mirage
or nature playing with collage...
that if I turn around I bet
it shall just disappear, and yet
my eyes instead see parapets that break the skyline blue,
as straight ahead, Bavaria, you render dreams come true.

Bavaria, your Disneyland is mine this very night;
it’s just as if your castle planned its setting, out of sight,
for some of us to stumble on.
But, if I blink will it be gone?
This castle you have hid so well
enchants me with its magic spell;
it lures me into fantasies en-wrapped with snowy pine.
You render dreams, Bavaria... your Disneyland is mine.

Copyright © 2009 Jan Turner

Pasted from <http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/wrappedrefrain2.html>

Example #2:
Consumption Gumption  (Wrapped Refrain style 2)

Folks of different cultures do of course feel differently.
I'd rather have them eat a horse instead of eating me.
A measure of degree again
for horses are almost our kin.
They're friends and assets with great worth
They've carried us and toiled the earth.
Man's climb from darkness was aided by the dog and the horse.
Eat them? No, but folks of different cultures do of course

To preclude cannibalism of course I'd eat a beast
who also soon would die, but it would be a sorry feast.
Moral questions now spring to light--
Is eating sentient things alright?
Natures template seems not to care.
Strong eat the weak most everywhere.
It's easy to eat "thoughtless" things but not our friend the horse--
unless required to preclude cannibalism of course.

 © Lawrencealot - Febrary 13, 2013.


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Staccato

The Staccato, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more 6-line stanzas.

Rhyme scheme: a,a,b,b,c,c

*Required internal rhyme scheme interplay between line #1 and line #2 (see below explanation and examples).

Meter:  10, 10, 8, 8, 10, 10

Repeats: This form requires a 2-syllable repeat in Lines #3 and #6 as specified below.

As in a musical notation, The Staccato poetry form uses

short repeats which are abruptly disconnected

elements. The repeat words are read as rapid-fire speech,

such as staccato music when played or sung.

This form lends itself to strong emotion or instruction

(i.e. military poems: “Charge on! Charge on!” etc.),

a declaration (such as of an event: “We’re married!

We’re married!” etc.), an instruction or emphasis of

human emotion (such as love, hate, longing: “Be mine!

Be mine!” etc.), strong observation (such as

“Those eyes! Those eyes!” etc.) or any similar

situation where a strong staccato repeat is desired.

The emphatic two-syllable repeat in this poetry form

is written twice, consecutively, at the beginning of

Line #3 (each repeat in Line #3 is followed by an exclamation mark),

 and once again at the beginning of Line #6

(with or without an exclamation mark in Line #6).

Also, Line #2 requires an internal rhyme scheme that rhymes

with a word within Line #1, usually falling on

the 6th syllable (see examples below), but can fall earlier

in those two lines as long as the internal rhyme

matches the syllabic stress in both lines .

Example Poem

Let's Write a Staccato

A staccato let's write, right here and now.

It's simple, really quite forward, here's how.

Notice! Notice! Internal rhyme

in lines one and two just in time

for a repeated exclamation, yet

notice third repeat may in quiet set.

That inversion my dear, was just for show

to make the rhyme quite clear of course you know.

I know! I know! Poor form to teach

Is most certainly a bad breach.

Since this poem with that err I fetter

I know you, my readers, can do better.

(c) Lawrencealot - September 11, 2012

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Tri-Fall

Tri-fall                                                                

The Tri-fall, created by Jan Turner,                                         

consists three 6-line stanzas, for a total of 18 lines.                         

Rhyme Scheme: abcabc                                        

Line-length  for each stanza is as follows: 6/3/8/6/3/8.          

Meter optional

                                                

This form requires little to no punctuation and can be written on any subject matter.     

Example Poem

  Surrender

Her passion was too much.

Now it's gone.

She condemned, deplored all abuse.

She praised the thrill of touch.

We'll bear on.

The jealous piled on, no excuse.

Her life was filled with hurt.

despite that,

or because of it, she performed

as an erotic flirt.

When at-bat

she homered passion unreformed.

Some men became aroused,

not content

to live within her fantasies,

and when requests were doused

time was spent

in fighting her apostasies.

© Lawrencealot - Aug 23, 2012    

Written about a very real AP Poet.

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Trijan Refrain

The Trijan Refrain, created by Jan Turner, consists of three 9-line stanzas, for a total of 27 lines. 

Line 1 is the same in all three stanzas, 

although a variation of the form is not to repeat the same line 

at the beginning of each stanza. 

In other words, the beginning line of each stanza can be different.

The first four syllables of line 5 in each stanza are repeated as the 

double-refrain for lines 7 and 8. The Trijan Refrain is a rhyming poem 

with a set meter and rhyme scheme as follows:

Rhyme scheme: ababccddc

 Meter: 8/6/8/6/8/8/4/4/8

source: shadowpoetry.com 

note: on the template below I have colored line 1,

Indicated that in the formal poem it should be first line of each verse.

in the poem below, I followed formal protocol for the first complete Trijan Refrain, then lapsed to the ever more poplular technique of not requiring first line stanza repetion.

Example Poem

Crop Circles

Crop Circles are works to amaze.

Sources of awe and hate!

For two score plus, a world-wide craze

to shock and aggravate.

It aggravates the farmers who

lose cash when fields are trampled through.

It aggravates.

It aggravates,

but there's not much that they can do.

Crop Circles are works to amaze

from ancient times 'til now.

A marvel upon which to gaze,

made in the night somehow.

They were simple in early days.

Mere circles. shown in diff'rent ways.

They were simple,

They were simple.

Complex now, harder to appraise.

Crop Circles are works to amaze

across our planet earth.

Hoaxers we know have made displays

Art forms of splendid girth.

Not all are false; most have proved true.

Could not be made by me or you.

Not all are false,

Not all are false.

Messages require a global view.

Crop formations they are now called.

Using geometry.

Mathematics leave us enthralled

with their complexity,

Math is the same in every land.

Greek, Chinese, Arab understand.

Math is the same.

Math is the same.

So global message must be planned.

Crop formations they are now named,

choose pre-historic sites

like Stonehenge and others so famed

to inscribe their delights.

Unsolved myst'ries believed to be

formed by some intelligentry.

Unsolved myst'ries,

Unsolved myst'ries

clues now distributed widely.

Since I began this poem to write.

This three-D box was made.

Of course it sprang up overnight.

It doesn't look homemade.

It baffles me what it might mean

laid out so nicely on the green.

It baffles me,

It baffles me.

If it's a hoax that will be seen.

The Mormons have not staked a claim,

nor have the Jews, I think.

Christians, Buddhists don't seek acclaim,

some odd cults may, don't blink.

We don't know how just over night

Huge shapes appear, proportions right.

We don't know how,

We don't know how.

Energy remains at each site.

Mayan themes have been oft addressed.

Celestial cycle lore

hints that earth shall soon be distressed

by changed magnetic core.

We can have help as ancients did,

in building the great pyramid

We can have help,

We can have help.

It could be; that would be splendid.

(c) Lawrencealot - July 6, 2012

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