Slide Ballad

This form was invented by Larry Eberhart, aka, Lawrencealot and dedicated to Victoria Sutton, aka, Passionspromise, inventor of the Slide Sonnet.

Slide Ballad consists of six or more quatrains in common meter

Rhyme pattern

(ax)axa (bx)bxb (cx)cxc (ax)axa (dx)dxd (ax)axa

Where (ax) indicates that end-line is unrhymed, but that there is interleaved rhyme from the first section of the first line to end following end-rhyme.

(There need not be multiple stanzas with the same rhyme, but there may be)

Where the a-lines in the final stanza are made up of segments from the preceding a-lines, see template and example.

Feminine rhyme is permitted as exception to common meter.

Example Poem

Soldier   (Slide Ballad)

There was no way he'd fail to join

the fight, and stay and play

while others wore the uniform

and gave their lives away.

His parents' view, was fearful but,

all hoped he'd make it through.

His Margie said "You'll come back, Joe,"

I'll wait until you do.

The war ground on, relentlessly,

'til many friends were gone.

Some missing limbs went home.  Some stayed,

interred 'neath foreign lawn.

Joe suffered grave injuries twice,

from those who would enslave.

He returned to fight each time - saying,

"It's not because I'm brave.

I want to stay until we win,

We shall ,I hope and pray.

I cannot set aside my role

while evil still holds sway.

He was the last left living now

behind the lines when fast

advancing  enemy took charge,

and then the battle passed.

'Twas only he the farmer found

a live, but bound to be

a corpse if left. The farmer cared

with quiet dignity.

Another year elapsed; he healed,

and hid and helped them clear

their crops,  He learned some French and learned

the end of war was near.

There was no way to thank his friends

who'd risked their lives that way.

I'll fetch my Marge, then we'll return;

We shall ,I hope and pray.

  © Lawrencealot - January 8, 2013

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