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Stornello Poem -Alan j Wright

 

Stornello Poems

A stornello is a traditional form of Italian folk poetry as well as improvisational song. The stornello originated in the rural regions of Tuscany before spreading across central and southern Italy to Lazio and beyond. 


In taverns and public squares, stornellanti (singers) would engage in long, improvised musical battles. One singer would throw out a verse, and the opponent had to quickly counter with a witty response using the same structure. 


The stornello form requires a tercet (or 3-line stanza) poem with 11 syllables per line and an aaa end rhyme. 

No limits exist regarding subject matter, so it’s an open field. 

It is as simple as that fellow poet. Stornello on!

I'll have mine with a glass of sangiovese...







Storm Brewing

Across the day we watched the gathering storm
The sky from blue to metal grey did transform
Leaves and dust so hastened by the wind did swarm.
Alan j Wright






Chill Pill

Our world is truly discombobulated
Rising tensions need to be modulated
Measured words need to be articulated.
Alan j Wright


It is yet again ,Poetry Friday and our host on this occasion is Mary Lee Hahn. mary is celebrating the on set of summer in the northern hemisphere. She shares a host of foodie delights to get in the summertime mood. 


































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Comments

  1. TraceyKJ29 May 2026 at 19:24

    Thank you for introducing me to the stornello, Alan. The idea of battling with improvised poetry in a public square terrifies me! I appreciate your foray into this scary territory, and your rhyme of discombobulated and modulated.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mona Voelkel30 May 2026 at 01:22

    Wish i was clever enough to make a reply to this lovely post in a stornello! LOVE the idea of battling back in a poetic form, and how you paired your stornellos with images!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liz Garton Scanlon30 May 2026 at 02:00

    A stornello! This is new to me -- thanks so much for the introduction

    ReplyDelete

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