Monotetra

The monotetra is a new poetic form developed by Michael Walker. Each stanza contains four lines in monorhyme. Each line is in tetrameter (four metrical feet) for a total of eight syllables. What makes the monotetra so powerful as a poetic form, is that the last line contains two metrical feet, repeated. It can have as few as one or two stanzas, or as many as desired.

Stanza Structure:

Line 1: 8 syllables; A1

Line 2: 8 syllables; A2

Line 3: 8 syllables; A3

Line 4: 4 syllables, repeated; A4, A4 

Example Poem

Collaboration     ( Monotetra)

My gramp brought me a valentine.

To give to mommy and it's just fine.

I'm four years old and it's all mine.

A valentine. A valentine.

It's got a heart and teddy bear

To show my mom how much I care.

A tiny voice came from nowhere,

"I've got no flair." "I've got no flair."

Somehow that card said words to me.

"I'm not as fine as I can be.

I need more personality"

that she can see, that she can see."

"With your help lad, I'll be much more.

I'll be a card that she'll adore."

I'll not be common anymore!

Accept this chore.  Accept this chore."

With a crayon I wrote just "my"

after "Mom".   She is my own, that's why.

I signed Tommy then heard card sigh.

I don't know why, I don't know why.

The card she's kept for all this time.

A priceless card that cost a dime.

Mom says I made the value climb

with my first rhyme, with my first rhyme.

© Lawrencealot - February 9, 2013

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Lisa Rima

This is a new form invented by Lisa La Grange of Allpoetry.

It consists of two or more quatrains of set syllabic length.

and with a specified rhyme pattern.

Syllable are: 8/8/8/3, and

Rhyme is: zzza

Meter is:

da da DUM da DUM da DUM da for the 8 syllable lines, and

da da DUM for the final line of each stanza.

(Anapest, amphibrach, trochee,  (same thing as Anapest, iamb, iamb) then

Anapest for line 4)

Example Poem

Pony Up

I suppose our band is corny,

and our plight about as thorny,

as a Bishop getting horny.

That's a bit.

Now John Wayne is bold and dashing,

and friend Clint is big on smashing,

and they both are really cashing

in on it.

The guitar I play beautif'ly,

I quaff my beers down dutif'ly

and play poker quite fruitfully

when I sit.

When required my firearm shooting

at the bandits who are looting

will just leave the children hooting

quite a bit.

It's for peanuts that we're playing

that's despite skill we're displaying

so if they do not start paying

I shall quit.

© Lawrencealot - August 24,2013

Here is a Visual Template:

7/5 Trochee

The 7/5 Trochee, created by Andrea Dietrich, of 2 or more quatrain stanzas with the following set rules:

Meter:  Trochaic
Syllabic: 7/5/7/5

Rhyme Scheme: a/b/c/b  or  a/b/a/b

The meter is trochee, which means alternating stressed and

unstressed beats in each line, with each line beginning and

ending in a stressed syllable. This is a simple lyrical type

little poem, so rhymes will be basic, nothing fancy.

The poem itself should give a description of something of interest to the poet.

There is not a set number of these quatrain type stanzas, 

but a typical 7/5 Trochee would consist of two quatrains,

with the second stanza serving to tie up the idea presented in the first stanza.

Pasted from <http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/75trochee.html> 

Example Poem

Nap

Sleeping eight hours every night 

Seems to some devine. 

Choosing such is quite their right. 

Just don't make it mine. 

I will sleep that much or more. 

Taking smaller blocks. 

For in afternoon I snore 

Even wearing socks.

© Lawrencealot -  June 19, 2012

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Luc Bat

The luc bat is a Vietnamese form of poetry.
It means simply "six eight" due to its pattern of syllables per line: 6,8,6,8,6,8, etc. There is no set length to the luc bat, so it can be as long or as short as you'd like.

But what really makes this form interesting is the rhyming structure, which sounds a little complicated but is easy to grasp in practice.

The sixth syllable of every eight-syllable line rhymes with the last syllable of the six-syllable line before it, which in turn rhymes with the eighth syllable of the eight-syllable line before it. When the end of the poem is reached, the last line jumps back and rhymes with the first. In other words, the syllables go like this:

* * * * * a
* * * * * a * b
* * * * * b
* * * * * b * c
* * * * * c
* * * * * c * d
* * * * * d
* * * * * d * a
...although of course the poem can be as long as you wish.
Remember that it is always the final line of the poem which
ends in the "a" rhyme, linking it back to the beginning



Example Poem

Farewell Denied

The ship I sailed and sank
those final years, was dank by then.
I tried to save her when
all hope seemed lost.  My men put out
in boats, and with a shout
"Farewell", I set about to save
that ship in a nearby cave.

I was not really brave; just done.
I thought it might be one
small chance for grounding run in firth.
Slight chance to find some berth
I tried for what it's worth, but failed.

Thru all the years I sailed,
and all the sirens hailed with cheer
I never thought I hear
one close until my dear, you found
me sinking soon to drown.
"I'd love for you to down here stay
and with this sprite now play,
but death to you that way I'll stop."
You brought me to the top.

A mortal life you swap to free
a mortal from the sea
although you wanted me to stay
I clung to life that day,
but thoughts of you held sway since then.
I'll leave the world of men
and dive in where back then, I sank.

© Lawrencealot - August, 2012

Author just noted on review that this poem does
not comply to specifications and will be re-rewritten.

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Octain Refrain

The Octain Refrain is a form invented by Luke Prater.  Learn more about Luke by visiting his blog at  www.lukeprater.com.

It comprises eight lines as TWO TERCETS and a COUPLET, either as octosyllables (counting eight syllables per line), or as iambic tetrameter, whichever is preferable. Trochaic tetrameter also acceptable. The latter yields a more propulsive rhythm, as opposed to iambs, which tend to lilt.

As the name suggests, the first line is a refrain, repeated as the last (some variation of refrain acceptable). Rhyme-scheme as follows -

Acc a(c/c)a bA

A = refrain line. c/c refers to line five having midline (internal) rhyme, which is different from the a- and b-rhymes. The midline rhyme does not have to fall exactly in the middle of the line, in fact it can be more effective and subtle, depending on context, to have it fall earlier or later.

Alternative layout/stanza-structure: TWO SINGLE LINES and TWO TERCETS

Refrain lines on their own, with the middle six as two tercets -

A bba (c/c)ab A

The High Octain is simply a double Octain, but as one poem – the refrains are the same, a- and b- rhymes are the same, but actual words are different, and the c/c line with the internal rhyme can optionally be rhymed in the second instance. There is no restriction on the level of repetition, but in most cases the stipulated refrain A is enough; this may even feel too repetitive and need varying. As a general guideline, changing up to four syllables of the eight still retains enough to feel like the refrain. The end word must remain the same.

The structure of the High Octain is one single after another with a break in between; alternatively, it can be written as two blocks of eight lines:

A-b-b-a-c/c-a-b-A

A-b-b-a-c/c-a-b-A [or d/d instead of c/c]

It is also possible to write a piece consisting of a string of single Octains (the rhymes of which would not usually correspond).

Example Poems

Octane Refrain     (Octain)

My muscle  car needs high-octane. 

If jerk at pump should pump low test 

He'll have a broken nose at best. 

From low octane I must refrain. 

It's racing fuel to race you fool. 

but high-octane I must explain. 

That's par for cars that run the best. 

My muscle  car needs high-octane. 

© Lawrencealot - June 19, 2012

Showers Wash the Stars  (Octain)

Springtime showers bringing rainbows 

Brightest sharpest color forming 

Glassine crystals grasslands warming 

Steam now rising; morning rain goes. 

Cleaned pavilion shines cerulean

promised now where stars refrain goes

Superb nighttime twinkle swarming.

Springtime showers bringing rainbows. 

New Year's Eve     (High Octain)

When we were young we joined the crowd 

To walk the street in freezing cold, 

to greet the new; kick  out the old. 

To hear the fireworks booming loud, 

and watch their flight into the night, 

their light reflecting off a cloud. 

We'd be there when the bells were tolled. 

When we were young we joined the crowd. 

When we were young we joined the crowd 

on blocked off streets that were patrolled 

by cops on horses quite controlled. 

But now we're older we've avowed 

to stay and see it on TV, 

that's even if the streets are plowed. 

We have each other we can hold. 

When we were young we joined the crowd. 

   © Lawrencealot - December 30, 2012

Visual Templates

Ottava Rima

A Ottava Rima is a poem written in 8-line octaves.
Each line is of a 10 or 11 syllable count in
the following rhyme:
one octave poem. abababcc
two octave poem. abababcc, dededeff
three octave poem. abababcc, dededeff, ghghghii

...so on and so on



Example Poem

Hereafter What?

Amazing homeostasis defies
entropy, seemingly with thoughtful change.
Through positive and negative replies
to stimuli it locks into a range.
A cell no more thinks than a piglet flies.
Ours try for constant Ph to arrange.
Each does its stupendous job then it dies.
With no need to fret where its future lies.

All instructions are D.N.A.  coded,
as is their time to "die", then they're replaced-
or not.  A mountain grows then's eroded,
while vapor turns to water being chased
through mountains cracks; more rocks are exploded,
Sometimes this cycle seems to be a waste.
Yet, waste or not it will play to the end.
That sir, is how my life will work, my friend.

Man's invented God since men could converse,
for death was never obscure- purpose was!
For most all, life was hard and they feared worse.
Hence gods were wrought to whom to plead their cause.
I've actualized myself though time  is terse.
I've lived, live yet, and require no applause.
Life's tiller needs no Maker's mighty hand.
His role fulfilled with big bang, on demand.

Those faith imbued may feel for me as I
so feel for them, saddened they're not complete.
"They're in a better place" will comfort my
peers - not I.  "They" must mean souls, not discrete
tokens.  Those souls pre- and post- life rely
on no puppet master, on no hymn sheet.
If soul there be then soul there is right now,
and will be then continuing, somehow.


(c) Lawrencealot - May 28, 2012

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Paulo Ludibrium Comitatu

Paulo Ludibrium Comitatu (Little Toy Train), created by Lawrencealot

      Patterned after the Paulo Comitatu

The form consists of one or more octaves where the 1st and 5th lines

are Iambic Trimeter with and extra unaccented syllable

da DUM  da DUM  da DUM da (Technically two iambs and an amphibrach)

The remaining lines are proper Iambic Trimeter

Rhyme Pattern: xaba xcbc

This form was designed by synergystic accident, while attempting to

to co-write a poem, and identify the beginning form.

 It is handy if poets are sharing alternating quatrains, and the second poet has strong rhyming skills.

It was placed here for all to enjoy.

Example Poem

Waiting for Her Backwoods Pilot

She sat there by the window

and watched the falling rain.

Her mind went to the past

she hummed a sweet refrain.

He traveled through the forest

with cautious stealth and dread.

Alone and failing fast,

he'd crashed and should be dead.

(c) Lawrencealot November  11, 2012

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Rispetto

The Rispetto is:

a poem in an octave, made up of 2 quatrains.

most often written in iambic tetrameter 

or it can be syllabic with lines between 8 and 12 syllables.

rhymed ababccdd or abababcc or abab cddc

The Heroic Rispetto is:

a poem in an octave made up of 2 quatrains.

always written in iambic pentameter.

rhymed ababccdd or abababcc or abab cddc

It appears that either may be separate quatrains or 

a single octave as the poet prefers.

Example Poem

Heroic Rispetto by Lawrecealot

Rispetto is an old Italian form.

It's English use has been neglected here.

It's not in books that are the writers' norm.

But searching yielded samples quite unclear.

What once was standard tetrameter changed.

It now can stretch to hexameter, dear.

If you have penned two stanza poems arranged

in quatrains your Rispetto may be here.

(c) Lawrencealot - April 16, 2012

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Swap Ottava

Created by Discoveria of Allpoetry.com.

The form has an Ottava Rima framework in which the sections of the first line are swapped to become the last line of the stanza.

A Double Swap Ottava

requires that technique to be applied to two of the early lines, normally Line 1 and 2, to become the closing couplet of the octet.

Minimum length 8 Lines, no maximum

Meter: Iambic pentameter

Rhyme: ababaabcc

Visual Template

Example Poem:

Synchonicty   (Swap Ottava)

A random meet- a gift of God's great plan.

She stepped into the bus I seldom take. 

I looked at her is how it all began. 

I found her cute, I was not on the make. 

My glance became a stare as a glance can. 

Our eyes met, then moved on for manner's sake. 

She looked again ,and smiled; the smile was sweet.

A gift of God's great plan-- a random meet. 

It is likely by chance: meeting a mate. 

This woman's smile was brief, beguiling,  true. 

Not just her lips, but her eyes were more bait. 

I'd hoped that my face invited her too. 

My shyness abated... let me test fate. 

There may be no chance if I now eschew 

risking rejection.  I'll ask her to dance. 

Meeting a mate: it is likely by chance. 

One out of three: seems like the odds are fine 

This lady gave me her number and said, 

"I think I'd like that, but first let us dine". 

A note for ladies... you take charge instead. 

Meet where you can leave if  things misalign. 

'Cause likely, like me, guys want you in bed.

Results run the gamut, but try, be free. 

Seems like the odds are fine: one out of three. 

 (c) Lawrencealot - April, 2012

Example of Double Swap Ottava


Social Schism  (Double Swap Ottava)

Some do less, some do more to help the whole. 
all members knew the score when tribes were small. 
Great hunters, all the members would extoll. 
Their prowess was a benefit for all. 
The tribes were healthy when each played their role, 
Our tribe will fail if no one heeds that call. 
When tribes were small all members knew the score. 
To help the whole,  some do less, some do more. 

  © Lawrencealot - January 2, 2013 


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Triolet

A Triolet is a poetic form consisting of only 8 lines.           

Within a Triolet, the 1st, 4th, and  7th lines          

repeat, and the 2nd and 8th lines do as well.           

The rhyme scheme is simple:  ABaAabAB, capital          

letters representing the repeated lines.    

There is no set syllable count, although the preferred one for repeating forms is the standard of eight syllables but there are many good examples around using iambic pentameter and similar meters.

Example Poem:

Pug Peed Too     (Triolet)

Into the copse we walked to take a pee.

I watched for cops, Pug just lifted his leg.

I'm glad Ms. Klag, the nag, saw him not me.

Into the copse we walked to take a pee.

I'll merely bail him out and set him free.

and remember my next Pug should be Peg.

Into the copse we walked to take a pee.

I watched for cops, Pug just lifted his leg.

(c) Lawrencealot -  June, 2012

Picture Credit:  www.pinterest.com

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