Please allow me to share with you the Quintilla, a Spanish poetic form that employs five-line stanzas.Here is all you need to know in order to jump in and write your very own Quintilla!
- Each stanza has five lines
- Each line has eight syllables. They're 'octosyllabic.'
- An ab rhyme scheme in which at least two lines use the "a" rhyme and at least two lines use the "b" rhyme...
- Please note, the stanza cannot end with a rhyming couplet.
There are several possible rhyme pattern variations one can use:
abaab
ababa
abbab
aabab
aabba
ababa
abbab
aabab
aabba
The inspiration for my Quintilla came from watching three year old, Isabel dance with spirited joy to the music of 'Frozen' one day this week. The dance recital reinforced how curious learners absorb so much from the world around them. Such dramatic action, such considered poses...
When Isabel Dances
The dancer moving joyfully
Adorned in a long trailing cape
The choreography so free
And once again, beguiling me
Small arms assume a dancer’s shape.
The music swells, the show moves on
A smile on that pleasing face
Moving with a child’s grace
Committed to this dance-a-thon
Creating magic in this space.
Alan j Wright
*I decided to adopt a different rhyme pattern for each stanza in an attempt to capture a sense of the changing nature of the 'freestyle' performance I witnessed.
It is once again Poetry Friday and our genial host this week is Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Jama is celebrating all things related to Thanksgiving in America. This includes food, books and poetry.
What a lovely capture of Isabel -- age three, dancing. The rhymes are pleasing and I can just picture a little cutie with a swirling robe dancing to 'Let it Go.' I so enjoy the forms you share. Every time you share a form that's new to me I want to rush off and try it -- which is what I'm doing right now.
ReplyDeleteOh Linda, it is like you were there! 'Let It Go' was indeed the song that launched a thousand dance moves. Great to see your quivering anticipation for some Quintilla time. Good luck. Have fun!
DeleteThanks for the new form, Alan, and for using it to show us sweet Isabel dancing. The freedom of a three-year-old is a wonder to behold as you've shown us in your poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. You are totally correct in your description of three year olds and their uninhibited actions. Glad you enjoyed the new poetry form.
DeleteNice learning about a new poetic form and seeing it in action. I could just see Isabel's movements in your poem. Esp. like that you included "grace," "magic," and "beguiling." :)
ReplyDeleteThree vital words that you noted, Jama. Thank you for your response to my Quintilla poem.
DeleteThis gave me such a joyful picture in my mind. And a new poetic form to try. Thanks, Alan!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura. It was my pleasure to share this. It was a most rewarding new challenge.
DeleteOh, I love this! And the quintilla sounds like such a fun form. I look forward to trying it out. Happy Poetry Friday!
ReplyDeleteOh Sarah, I am most pleased by your response. It was fun to work in this way with a new poetry form. I hope you experience the very same buzz from exploring your own Quintilla poems. Best wishes!
DeleteOooh, I can *see* Isabel in your quintilla! Delightful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this new (for me) form. I'm very taken with the sound of your poem - is it the octasyllabic lilt or the long-a and soft-o words or is it little Isabel's freedom?
ReplyDelete