Poetic Forms
sonnet, villanelle and pantoum
CurrentNews:
Ye Olde Renaissance Woman
September 21, 2010
Ye
Olde Renaissance Woman rises from the ashes of Ye Olde Font Shoppe. We are no longer publishing small press poetry books but if you're looking to do
that email me and I'll recommend a new publisher. However,
I moved to Tennessee and have decided to freelance the many skills I have
accumulated over my years as a computer programmer, teacher, martial artist, crafter,
and poet.
Come back and see what I may have to offer you!
RecentEvents:
Moved to Tennessee
August 02, 2010
After
fifteen years in Connecticut, my itchy feet told me it was time to move south
again. The background picture at the top of the page and the pictures in these
sidebar items are views from my street. I think I'll stay for awhile. At least
another 15 years.
Sonnet
What is a sonnet?
There are many types of sonnets, but they all have two tings in common:
- They have 14 lines.
- Thre is at least one place in the poem where the poem "changes gears." It is a shift in direction of the poem. This is called a volta.
If you want to learn more about the particular types of sonnets, you can check the links below.
Sonnet Links
Villanelle
What is a Villanelle?
A Villanelle is a French form with the following layout:
Line 1 (rhyme A)
Line 2 (rhyme B)
Line 3 (A)
Line 4 (A)
Line 5 (B)
Line 6 is line 1 from first stanza
Line 7 (A)
Line 8 (B)
Line 9 is line 3 from first stanza
Line 10 (A)
Line 11 (B)
Line 12 is line 1 from first stanza
Line 13 (A)
Line 14 (B)
Line 15 is line 3 from first stanza
Line 16 (A)
Line 17 (B)
Line 18 is line 1 from first stanza
Line 19 is line 2 from first stanza
If you want to learn more about villanelles, you can check the links below.
Villanelle Links
Pantoum
What is a Pantoum?
from Poetry Pointers by Al Rocheleau (which unfortunately no longer seems to exist.):
"Made popular in the nineteenth century, the French and English call [this]
elaborate form the pantoum, a poem in which the second and fourth lines of a
stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza, and lace
together somewhat like a corset on a French tart as the poem of proceeds.
The modern pantoum can be any length the poet wishes but will usually end (at least the English version does) with the first line of the poem repeated as the last line of the poem, and the third line of the poem (third line of the first quatrain) as the second line of the last quatrain. Get that? "
If you want to learn more about villanelles, you can check the links below.
Pantoum Links
Examples from my portfolio
Sonnet
Gemstone Love
Each moment spent with you is precious stone
to gather in my heart for empty days
and cloudy, coal black nights spent all alone
with memories of you in disarray.
I'll pull your ruby kisses from my heart
to feel them once again upon my lips.
The turquoise touch your fingers, hands impart
will hold me close when time so quickly slips
away from me as I grow grey and old.
I'll see your opal eyes gaze into mine
until they brim and teardrops, uncontrolled,
run down my cheeks in memory divine.
At last, the moonstone love our bodies share,
will shine within my heart beyond compare.
Villanelle
Young Adults
Next week is Carlita's 15th birthday.
Failed twice, two years too old for 7th grade.
She strokes her rounded belly. Every day
gently circles her hand this way, that way.
Her shirts hang loose, hide what her hand betrayed.
Next week is Carlita's 15th birthday,
she looks a bit bigger. I'd have to say
about three months gone. Can't ask, can't invade.
She strokes her rounded belly. Every day
her eyes flash as I look, hold me at bay,
she hides inside adulthood masquerade.
Next week is Carlita's 15th birthday,
no Quinceaños, sweet fifteen soiree,
or even baby shower, I’m afraid.
She strokes her rounded belly. Every day
closer, baby due on an August day,
just before she is due to start 8th grade.
Next week is Carlita's 15th birthday.
She strokes her rounded belly every day.
Pantoum
One Hundred Eighty Seconds
Bow to each other. Bow to the ref.
"Fighting stance. Begin" Hesitate. Then,
a suddenly compact universe,
reduced to two. Fighters move, parry,
fighting stance. Begin. Hesitate, then
start a three minute relationship
reduced to two fighters. Move, parry.
Eyes locked, we watch peripherally,
start a three minute relationship.
I push, urge him on, move him closer.
Eyes locked, we watch peripherally,
dance, casual acquaintances. Will
I push, urge him on, move him closer.
to me? Weave, reach, move away, we play,
dance. Casual acquaintances will
anticipate, try to dictate moves
to me. Weave. Reach. Move away. We play
like not-yet lovers. A foot I don't
anticipate! Try to dictate moves
as it slips my guard, touches me hard,
like not yet lovers. A foot I don't
stop. Suck breath, circle, counter, block, punch,
as it slips my guard, touches me hard.
Sweaty vinyl gear smacks together.
Stop. Suck breath. Circle. Counter. Block. Punch.
Still foreplay. Nothing below the belt.
Sweaty vinyl gear smacks together.
We breathe hard, touch hard, clothes wet, still on,
still foreplay, nothing below the belt.
Finally comes commitment. Hit hard,
we breathe hard, touch hard, clothes wet, still on
guard, I watch, back off. Begin again.
Finally comes commitment. Hit hard,
again, again. Padded gear smacks loud.
Guard. I watch. Back off. Begin. Again
I mount the assault, corner him, hit
again, again. Padded gear smacks loud
against his solar plexus. My point.
I mount the assault, corner him, hit
openings, kick inside. Gasp. Heave. Push
against his solar plexus. My point.
A second wind drives me to search for
openings. Kick inside. Gasp. Heave. Push
as he counters, scores. Scores again.
A second wind drives me to search for
his eyes, look for signs. Pause ends
as he counters, scores, scores again,
ends without warning. The ref calls, "Break,"
His eyes look for signs. Pause ends,
A suddenly compact universe
ends without warning. The ref calls, "Break,
Bow to each other." Bow to the ref.
Creativity in many realms!
