Poetry forms and schemes can be inspirational to explore; they can help you mine forgotten feelings and hidden thoughts. Of course, poetry is so much more than a mere exercise of logic and pattern but rhyming schemes can help you unleash your musings in a tight, directed way that makes you choose your limited words wisely.
Sometimes, I find solace in their rules. Sometimes, I want to be rebel and go free verse all the way.
See below for my rondelet poem about smiles, followed by a guide of how to write one.
What Is A Smile?
What is a smile?
A flash of pride you cannot hide?
What is a smile?
A glimpse of guile? A waning while?
A mask? A lie? A plea? A guide?
A sign of how you feel inside?
What is a smile?
Mark Bird
How to write a rondelet:
A rondelet has seven lines. Like Haikus, Tankas and Cinquains the amount of syllables in each line are key. Rondelets also need a strong refrain. I also added some internal rhymes but you don't have to.
Their rhyming scheme is AbAabbA
Refrain: Lines that repeat
Internal rhymes: Words they rhyme within a line of poetry
What Is A Smile?
A. What is a smile? (Line 1: four syllables)
b. A flash of pride you cannot hide? (Line 2: 8 syllables)
A. What is a smile? (Repeats line 1)
a. A glimpse of guile? A waning while? (8 syllables, rhymes with line 1)
b. A mask? A lie? A plea? A guide? (8 syllables, rhymes with line 2)
b. A sign of how you feel inside? (8 syllables, rhymes with line 2)
A. What is a smile? (Repeats line 1)
Mark Bird
