• Lines one and three have eight syllables
• Lines two and four have four syllables
• Rhyme scheme: abcb
• End words for each line have two syllables
• The end words for lines one and three consonate with the words in lines two and four
• Every stressed word in line four rhymes

My example below features only one quatrain, but poets can link two or more in one poem if they wish.

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at an sned-bairdne:

“dragon,” by Robert Lee Brewer

The mountains hide a large dragon
in a cavern
according to local legend
at the tavern.

The post Sned-Bairdne: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(Common poetry terms.)

Here are the ranaigecht mor gairit guidelines:

• Quatrains (or 4-line stanzas)
• Three syllables in the first line; seven syllables per line in lines two through four
• Rhyme scheme: aaba
• The end word of line three rhymes with a word (or words) in the middle of line four
• The end word of each line is usually monosyllabic

No other rules for subject or length!

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a Rannaigecht Mor Gairit:

Know Your Own Weight, by Robert Lee Brewer

The last string
or straw or whatever thing
that he did before she went
and sent him off was to fling

his whole self
onto the very top shelf
of her favorite display case
now displaced by that dumb elf.

The post Rannaigecht Mor Gairit: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(Common poetry terms.)

Here are the ranaigecht guidelines:

• Quatrains (or 4-line stanzas)
• Seven syllables per line
• End words usually have one-syllable words in lines one, two, and four; multi-syllabic word for line three
• The end word of line three rhymes with a word (or words) in the middle of line four
• Lines two and four end rhyme together
• The end words of lines one, two, and four consonate (or have similar consonant sounds)

No other rules for subject or length!

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a Rannaigecht:

It’s December, by Robert Lee Brewer

It’s December, and the signs
of hope shine beneath the moon
in electric gaiety
for our deities…we swoon.

The post Rannaigecht: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

• Quatrain (or four-line) poem or stanzas.
• Four syllables per line.
• All end words in the stanza (or poem) consonate.
• Second and fourth lines rhyme.
• There’s a rhyme between the third and fourth line.

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a trian rannaigechta moire:

O Pamphleteer!, by Robert Lee Brewer

O pamphleteer,
we all react
with tactful yays
or nays, in fact.

Let loose your quick
publication
of radical
education.

O pamphleteer,
whether you’re right
or wrong we sing
the song all night,

and new ideas
burn through us fast
for sudden thoughts
ought never last.

The post Trian Rannaigechta Moire: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

• Quatrain (or four-line) poem (or stanzas).
• Rhyme scheme: abcb
• Five syllables per line.
• Assonance (or repetition of vowel sounds) in the first two lines of each stanza.
• The end word of the third line rhymes with a word in the middle of the fourth line (and if it doesn’t, then the “a” and “c” words should consonate with the “b” words).

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a lethrannaegecht mor:

The Good Prince, by Robert Lee Brewer

Since I met the prince
from whence he once pranced,
I followed his song
along where he danced.

He juggled and jumped
just because he could
and never did bad–
so glad to be good.

The post Lethrannaegecht Mor: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

• Quatrain (or four-line) poem (or stanzas).
• Six-syllable lines.
• Two-syllable rhymes at the end of each line.
• Rhyme scheme for each quatrain: abcb.
• The “a” and “c” words consonate with the “b” words.
• Usually an aicill rhyme between lines three and four.

Note on aicill rhyme: An aicill rhyme in this poem means that the final syllable of line three rhymes somewhere in line four (usually the middle). While I tried in my example below, I came up just a tad short–unless we want to really slant the rhyme of “fever/heated” in the first stanza.

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a rinnard:

Dover Men, by Robert Lee Brewer

When young men in Dover
start to get a shiver,
they may have a fever
from a heated liver.

Perhaps, they drink hardest
when they’re being modest;
with their lips unharnessed,
at least they’ll be honest.

The post Rinnard: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Ocus Lethrannaigecht Poems

The cro cumaisc etir casbairdni ocus lethrannaigecht is an Irish poetic form, which means there are quite a few rules about rhyming and syllables (plus, it has a really long name). But, like other Irish poetic forms, it’s fun once you get the rules down.

Here are the guidelines:

• Quatrain (or four-line) stanzas
• Seven syllables in lines one and three; five syllables in lines two and four
• Lines one and three end with a three-syllable word
• Lines two and four end with a one-syllable word
• Rhyme scheme in each stanza: abab

Let’s try it out.

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Click to continue.

Here’s my attempt at a cro cumaisc etir casbairdni ocus lethrannaigecht:

Bucket List, by Robert Lee Brewer

This tale is not compelling,
but it will be sold
to those who are rebeling
against what they’re told,

and if their hope’s eroding,
what else can be done
to get their faith exploding
into what is fun?

The post Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Ocus Lethrannaigecht: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Seadna Poems

The seadna is an Irish poetic form, which means there are quite a few rules about rhyming and syllables. But it’s fun once you get the rules down.

Here are the guidelines:

• Quatrain (or four-line) stanzas
• Eight syllables in lines one and three; seven syllables in lines two and four
• Lines one and three end with a 2-syllable word; lines two and four end with a one-syllable word
• Lines one and three have eight syllables; lines two and four have seven syllables
• Lines two and four end rhyme with each other
• The final word of the first line alliterates with the first stressed word of the second line
• The third line rhymes with the stressed word preceding the last word of the stanza…
• …and all three of those words alliterate with each other

I know, I know; it is a lot to track in a four-liner, right?

*****

Play with poetic forms!

Poetic forms are fun poetic games, and this digital guide collects more than 100 poetic forms, including more established poetic forms (like sestinas and sonnets) and newer invented forms (like golden shovels and fibs).

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a seadna:

Bucket List, by Robert Lee Brewer

I wandered through New York City
in search of its Central Park
sure that I’d find it by morning
with many making their mark,

and I’m afraid there’s no moral
to my story on the go,
but I’ll still share this small warning
of my long wandering woe.

The post Seadna: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Dechnad Mor Poems

The dechnad mor (not to be confused with the dechnad cummaisc) is an Irish poetic form that employs quatrains (or four-line stanzas). Here are the guidelines:

• Four-line stanzas.
• Lines one and three have eight syllables and end rhyme with each other.
• Lines two and four have six syllabes and end rhyme with each other.
• Each end rhyme is a two-syllable end rhyme.
• Each line features alliteration between at least two words.
• The end of the first line rhymes with the beginning of the second line.
• The end of the third line rhymes with the beginning of the fourth line.

So yeah, there are a lot (A LOT) of rules packed into each quatrain!

*****

Build an Audience for Your Poetry!

While your focus as a poet will always be on refining your craft, why not cultivate a following along the way? With the multitude of social networking opportunities available today, it’s never been easier to connect with other poetry enthusiasts. Within minutes, you can set up a blog and share your poems and insights with like-minded readers.

Discover how to expand your readership and apply it to your poetry sharing goals today!

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a dechnad mor:

 Burned, by Robert Lee Brewer

Carl fell in love with a klepto,
who burned all his belief.
She did not pilfer his Pepto,
so that’s a right relief!

The post Dechnad Mor: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.

Dechnad Cummaisc Poems

The decnad cummaisc is an Irish poetic form that employs quatrains with both end and internal rhymes. Here are the guidelines:

• Four-line stanzas.
• Eight syllables in the first and third lines.
• Four syllables in the second and fourth lines, which both end rhyme.
• The final word of line three rhymes with the middle of line four.

The poem can be a single quatrain or run for several. Subject matter is completely open.

*****

Build an Audience for Your Poetry!

While your focus as a poet will always be on refining your craft, why not cultivate a following along the way? With the multitude of social networking opportunities available today, it’s never been easier to connect with other poetry enthusiasts. Within minutes, you can set up a blog and share your poems and insights with like-minded readers.

Discover how to expand your readership and apply it to your poetry sharing goals today!

Click to continue.

*****

Here’s my attempt at a dechnad cummaisc:

the lovers, by Robert Lee Brewer

we dance in the days and again
in the evenings
looking for love that won’t decay
or fake meanings

of emotions felt so intense
in our kisses
that broadcast intentions below
our faux misses

along the soft path of kindness
that is repaid
we sing love & our love belongs
in songs replayed

The post Dechnad Cummaisc: Poetic Forms appeared first on Writer's Digest.