Envelope Sonnet - Crunch Time

This is a variation of the Italian Sonnet done by the French. It creates two sestets and links them with a rhyming couplet. The length is eight or ten syllables and the rhyme scheme is as followed: a.b.c.c.b.a.d.d.e.f.g.g.f.e.

"Crunch Time"

Time that rushes on so quickly
Constantly slipping away
Tick away upon the second hand
And falling down on grains of sand
You make me so regret the day
That life began this long countdown
To the final scene so profound
When all this will end in a fall
And at last the nagging will halt
Of your constant reminder
That this life is just a binder
To hold us till judged on our fault
And we realize we can’t forestall

Envelope Quintet - My City

This is a natural progression of four lines to five lines. It is based off of the enveloped stanza, but turns the middle couplet into a triplet. This yields a rhyme scheme is : a.b.b.b.a

"My City"

I live in a restless city
So grand and streaming with light
Where there is noise every night
That burns in my mind constant plight
And fills my heart with endless pity

Envelope Stanza - Merciful Book

This is a form that was most likly created by Francesco Petrarcha. It is the foundation of the Italian octave and is also used in the French and Spanish Octave. It consists of eight syllalbes and the structure is as followed:

xxxxxxxa
xxxxxxxb
xxxxxxxb
xxxxxxxa

“Merciful Book”

Dearest book within my meek hand
How I hunger for your pages,
Story upon that so rages
I tremble in your wake so grand

Envelope Couplet - Coffee Cup

This is a variation of the Stave Stanza that is stricter in form. It is made up of three stanzas, where the first and last line are the same in each stanza. The second and fifth line also rhyme with the first and last, leaving the center couplet as the only rhyme change. The form is as followed: A1.a.b.b.a.A2...A1.a.c.c.a.A2....A1.a.d.d.a.A2.

"Coffe Cup"

Coffee cup, you are my salvation
Creating the most delightful sensation
Upon my thirsty lips
I dink in your refreshing sips
After our lengthened flirtation
I have fallen to your temptation

Coffee cup, you are my salvation
You give me such liberation
To have with your but a moment
of peace removes all my torment
For you I have such a fixation
I have fallen to your temptation

Coffee cup, you are my salvation
Your grinds and beans are a beautiful creation
That brightens every morning
Of your taste I am so adoring
To this addiction I have such dedication
I have fallen to your temptation

English Sestet - A Star's Shine

This sestet is based off the popular Sicilian one and was often used by Shakespear, who used the sestet rhyming scheme in his sonnets. The prefered meter is iambic pentameter. The pattern is as followed:

xxxxxxxxxa
xxxxxxxxxb
xxxxxxxxxa
xxxxxxxxxb
xxxxxxxxxc
xxxxxxxxxc

“A Star’s Shine”

Do you, dear, see that star above shine
Throughout the heavens bright and glorious?
Have you ever seen a star more fine,
Claiming the heavens so victorious?
I know my love for it to be so true,
For love, that star is half as bright as you.

English Quintain - Your Laughter

This is the most popular form of Quintain. It has no set measure or foot. The rhyme scheme is: a.b.a.b.b.

“Your laughter”

Your laughter to my ears
Does float like gentle breeze
Calming any of my fears
You have put my mind to ease
And my heart you have seized

Echo Sonnet - My Dove

This is a fairly new sonnet created by an English poet, Jeff Green. It is based off of French repeating forms. However, it unlike them it uses iambic pentrameter, making it a true sonnet. It is formed by three eveloped quatrains and a couplet. The last line of each stanza is the same and the first line is repeated as the first line of the couplet. The rhyme scheme is as followed: A.b.b.A1...a.c.c.A1...a.d.d.A1...A.A1.

"My Dove"

Oh happy, elusive Love high above
Will you not have mercy and come down low
To greet me, gentle love, and now bestow
Your joyful grace I so desire, my Dove.
I am lost in the cold with no warm glove
To keep my heart from freezing over with
loneliness. Your beauty cannot be myth!
Your joyful grace I so desire, my Dove.
Why are your ears deaf and why mush you shove
me away like some sad, hopeless disease?
It is only you that I wish to please,
Your joyful grace I so desire, my Dove.
Oh happy, elusive Love high above
Your joyful grace I so desire, my Dove.

Dizain - Lazy Afternoon

This is a form of Decastitch that was originally French and initially was made up of eight syllable lines, but later a variation of ten syllable lines was also used. When it became popular in England, it was often set in iambic pentameter, but there is no set meter. The rhyme scheme is: a.b.a.b.b.c.c.d.c.d.

"Lazy Afternoon"

Alone I sit beneath the sunshine bright
With eyes safely hidden behind closed lids.
No buzzing, busy thoughts my mind do plight
Nor regrets of passed mistakes I once did
And simple jokes to myself I do kid.
For today is one for light happenings
That do not bother nor cause dark grievings.
It is one for pondering and slumber.
So we may think of easier passings
When later we do happen to blunder.

Decuain - Town Square

This is a form of Decastitch (10 lines) created by Shelly A. Cephas. It is set in iambic pentrameter and can have three different rhyme schemes:ababbcbcaa, ababbcbcbb, or ababbcbccc.

“Town Square”

Shopping hub, bustling people about,
Money shifting hands and talking heard round,
Shifting, scanning eyes do travel to scout
To see where their service is safe and sound.
All the talking cause voices to be drowned.
The town square is so filled with life today.
All the moving feet do loudly pound
To hush even loudest child’s dismay.
And so the people do dance on the ground
Till day be done and lonely night is crowned.

Decastitch - Ballerina Dancer

This is a very open form of poetry, defined to be any ten line poem. It has no set meter or rhyme. However, other sources suggest that free verse is the best option.

Ballerina Dancer,
upon dimly lit stage,
twirling and prancing,
with lighten heart and pointed feet,
you move with such grace and easy strength.
As if it’s nothing.
As if it’s easy.
As if this was how it’s meant to be.
Oh, if I could be as you,
Ballerina Dancer.

Cyhydedd Fer Sonnet - Lone Hipsterr

The creator of this form is unknown. The cyhydedd fer is an ancient form of seven couplets that was used long before the creation of the sonnet. The difference from normal sonnets lies in the fact that the cyhydedd fer has no meter requirement other than the rhyme every eight syllables. The pivot or volta can fall anywhere between line five and line eight with the final couplet being a resolution. The rhyme form is quiet simple being a.a.b.b.c.c.d.d.e.e.f.f.g.g.

"Lone Hipster"

Lone hipster, at computer screen,
Typing away with your hat of lime green
In the corner of a coffee shop.
The bottom of your skinny jeans crop,
To show your converse purple and white
Hair highlights dyed so bright
To clash with your natural hair.
Leaning back without a care,
Thick black glasses slightly askew,
Waiting for your nearing cue
To push them higher up your nose
With your middle finger so posed.
You may think you’re cool,
But maybe you are just a fool.

Cornish Sonnet - What You See

This sonnet was created by Arab traders working in Cornwall, which the sonnet is named for. Purists recommend all sonnets be in iambic petrameter, however this sonnet has no set meter. It is made up of two three couplet stanzas and a final refrain that is made up of the either the first or final lines of each stanza. The form that is suggested is as followed: A.b.a.c.b.c...D.e.d.f.e.f...A.D. or a.b.a.c.b.C...d.e.d.f.e.F...C.F.

“What you see”

I see a woman, strong and beautiful.
Highly regarded and recommended.
Her coy smiles and dancing eyes do pull
All to her like entranced moths to flame
And hearts will leap with a turn of her head.
Yet, I wonder if it is just a game.
I see a woman, hiding her true self.
Behind her loud laughter lies her real cries,
Hiding her secret fears on a old shelf.
Her applied, perfect makeup covers her tears.
Yet, we all believe her silly, brave lies
Because we try to deny out own fears.
I see a woman, strong and beautiful.
I see a woman, hiding her true self.

Common Octave - Sun and Moon

This is a variation of common measure with three alternating rhymes and meters. The first and third are in iambic tetrameter and the second in iambic trimeter. The structure is as followed:

xxxxxxxa
xxxxxb
xxxxxxxc
xxxxxb
xxxxxxxa
xxxxxb
xxxxxxxc
xxxxxb

“Sun and Moon”

Shinning sun, ruler of the day,
You burn an impression
In every mind upon this earth
For every passing day you freshen.
Lovely moon, queen of darken way,
Gleaming light has grand expression
You glisten with such brilliant worth.
What lovely procession.

Common Measure - First Sign of Spring

Common Measure or Hymnal Measure

This is a multi stanza form made up of three rhymes alternating in iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. The form and rhyme scheme can be observed below:

xxxxxxxa
xxxxxb
xxxxxxxc
xxxxxb

“First Sign of Spring”

When gloomy winter snow begins
to melt away to give
into hidden springtime warmth and
green, nature again may live.

Cinquain - Nature's Escape

This is a very popular five line stanza. Originally, it was a French form with open line length and rhyme scheme. However, the common cinquain follows the form set down by Adelaide Crapsey. This form is composed of five lines starting with a two syllable line, followed by three lines which increase by to syllables in turn and finally finished with a two syllable line. It is often in iambic form. The syllable layout can be observed below:

xx
xxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
xx

"Nature's Escape"

Join
me and dance with
the music of the night
and rejoice in nature and breath
in life.

Choka - Stars

This a Japanese style of poetry that means long poem. It is made up by a series of Katuatas joined together. It is constructed by having a first line of five syllables, a second of seven, and a third of seven, then repeating the cycle at least once. The form would be as followed:

xxxxx
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx

“Stars”

Stars are the greatest
Wonders our eyes can behold
Dance above in darken sky
Left only glimpses
Of secrets that lie beyond
Our wildest imaginings

Cavatina - Cruel Autumn

Cavatina

This is an Italian form of poetry that consists of a ten syllable, non-rhyming line with a four syllable, rhyming line at least three times. The poem is completed with a ten syllable line in couplet. The poem would be constructed as followed:

xxxxxxxxxa
xxxb
xxxxxxxxxc
xxxb
xxxxxxxxxd
xxxxxxxxxe
xxxxxxxxxe

“Cruel Autumn”

In early spring when flowers bloom so sweet
And grow so tall.
It makes the lives we endlessly lead on
So very small,
For we are just budding flowers as well.
Soon we shall fall,
When autumn winds come blowing without mercy
Will surely be the end of you and me.

Canzonetta - Growing Apple

This is a variation of the canzone, a lyric poem with varying lengths and patterns. The Canzonetta consists of two octaves using a series of alternating couplets. The last line is repeated at the end of both stanzas. The rhyme scheme can be as followed: a.b.a.b.c.d.c.d or a.b.a.b.c.b.c.b.

“Growing Apple”

Little apple, budding in the tree
Among so many shining leaves,
Why not fall down and be with me
And forgo any lengthened peeves
Of waiting to become full grown?
It is such a hassled time
Waiting for your sun to be shown
And have to simply wait in line.

Can’t you fall and heed my plea?
For it is you who hold the keys,
The answers on what to be
Through all life’s passing deeds.
Would it not be better to be blown
Down to where we all have pined
Or must we just quiet the moans
And have to simply wait in line?

Burns Stanza or Standard Habbie - Simple Sundays

This stanza was formed by the famous poet, Robert Burns. The first three line and the fifth line rhyme and include eight syllables. The fourth and sixth lines form a second pair of rhymes and have six syllabels. The pattern is as followed:

x x x x x x x a
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x b
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x b

“Simple Sundays”

Simple, happy Sunday cares and
Thoughts that slip away the day planned
And fall to happy sighs offhand
With blissful smiles shown
And hoping not to understand
How quickly time has flown

Black Verse - The Human Race

Blank Verse


Blank verse is called blank because it does not have to rhyme. It is composed in iambic petrameter. It is often used for monologues and expressing dramatic feeling. It was first used in English by Surrey's translation of Virgil's Aeneid. It was also used by Shakespeare, Milton, and Wordsmith. Blank Verse is usually divided into verse paragraphs of varying length, though it can be used in stanzas of equal length.

"The Human Race"

What kind of life is this that we all lead,
Where we all rush about like mice in cages
Without a thought of higher existence,
Forgetting those we love and whom love us,
Passing by the needy and weakest lives,
And stepping over others to gain success?
What has the human race become these days?
Filled with selfish wants and hateful thinking.
Is this what we want to been seen for future
generations? People of hate and greed?
Can you look your child in the eye now
And reveal what you have done without guilt?
Can you say good bye to this life without
regrets? Can you face your mistakes today
And forgive yourself with blessed patience?
Are you who you truly want to be now?
Can you wake up tomorrow and look at
The mirror and be able to trust the face
You see starring back at you with peace?
Do not lie to yourself to cover the facts.
Become your best self and redeem your race,
Be one to sway the tide and recover
The potential we once offered this Earth.
Only we can change our pace and turn
over a new leaf to begin a new
revolution of greatness and life.
Remember who you are and have pride in
Calling yourself one of the human race.

Book Review - Beowulf on the Beach

There is not much to dislike about Jack Murnighan’s guide to reading the classics, Beowulf on the Beach. Murnighan becomes a personal literature professor, giving readers all the hits and misses of literature's most acclaimed novels. He even offers hints on what really makes them great. It is a guide that will encourage you, make you laugh, and even get you excited to pick up a book. With the modern world progressing so fast, Murnighan reminds us that the past still has a lot to offer and classics still have a lot to say to modern readers.

What makes this book special is Murnighan’s voice, which can be found in every word. Once he got down to pen and paper, Murnighan did not hold back an ounce. He loves the classics, he’s excited to talk about them, and he wants you to be too. He coming at us with a new angle, he’s not just going to explain the books to us, he’s going to show us why they are so great and inspire us to give them a chance. Murnighan is also burtally honest, if a thought passed through his mind, you better believe it will be in print. That is what makes reading Beowulf on the Beach so enjoyable, it’s like you are talking with a good friend. However, Murnighan is an expert professor, complete with a PhD in literature, who really knows what he’s talking about. It is that talent and wit that really makes the book a good read.

Murnighan also has a considerably good style of writing. He draws the reader in, backing it up with examples and specific topics. He leaves no room for questioning, he is direct and insightful. His writing is also elegant, with metaphors and imagery in every line. He also has great timing and gives just enough room for comic effect. Murnighan put his heart and soul into trying to express his feelings, his love, for these books and their messages. “I want you to feel these books in your heart, in your soul,and maybe even below your waist.” He makes a great case for the classic and can easily sway the average reader into pull out at least once and giving it another try.

However, much of the credit must go to the classics themselves. They are called “literature’s greatest hits” because that is what they really are. They are books that have stood the test of time and conquer many hearts and minds. They are books that will inspire, teach, and change lives. None of the should be passed up.

Beowulf on the Beach was one of the most entertaining guides to literature I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I laughed, I gasped, and I was excited. It’s good and the books it praises are even better. Learn from it and go read, and enjoy, a classic.

Ballade - Little Flier

A Ballade is a French ballade that was standardized in the 14th century. The original form was octosyllabic, but now decasyllable or iambic tetrameter is also accepted. The poem is 28 lines with three octave stanzas and an envoi. The rhyme patter is repeated through each stanza and the final line is a refrain. The rhyming through the stanzas is: a, b, a, b, b, c, b, C and the envoy: b, c, b, C.



“Little Flier”


Little meekling bird flying high,
Why do you prance so carelessly,
Zoom so effortlessly about the sky
Without a though to world low thee
And no forgiving glance at me.
What makes you so proud and prideful?
How can you be so limit free?
Does no worry on your wings pull?

Where have you been my little fly?
Have you seen the world endlessly
Stretching out before the dawn sky?
You’ve seen ocean waves, forest trees
And forgotten lonely old me.
Is it I who am wrong, lustful
To dream of being you and free.
Does no worry on your wings pull?

But be my guest and fly on high.
Fly away and leave my soul be
For no longer I dream to fly.
I must give up to be let be
I cannot chase after dreams. Thee
May fly on careless and gleeful,
As I am cursed jealous to be.
Does no worry on your wings pull?

But I am left to think of thee,
So high above me and so very full
Wondering may I forever be,
Does no worry on your wings pull?

Ballad Stanza - The Garden

The basic Ballad Stanza consists of four lines with an alternating couplet and lines that alternate from four iambic feet to three. The first line is holds eight syllables followed by the second that has six syllables. This gives a suggested pattern of:

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.a
x.x.x.x.x.x.b
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.a
x.x.x.x.x.x.b

“The Garden”

Blessed garden, growing beauty
Becoming lush and full.
What wonders do my eyes foresee
When my gaze you do pull?

Like a mother to her young child
I have nurtured and raised
You since tiny bud and seedling
And now you’ve grown to praise.

My garden, my beauty of nature,
How you’ve flourished before
My silent eyes and quiet mouth
And now I feel your core.

But when winter winds come blowing,
My heart will soon breaking
As I watch you wither away
And my dispair making.