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
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
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.
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.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Tracey. Always good to share new poetry forms. I only wrote in the form, Tracey. Like you I would find it daunting to improvise such words as these without a cheat sheet. I do admire the verbal dexterity of the stornello poets.
DeleteWish 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!!!
ReplyDeleteThe skill to produce such words on the run is to be admired, Mona. glad you liked my Stornello efforts. It was fun in the making.
DeleteA stornello! This is new to me -- thanks so much for the introduction
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Liz. Always fun to explore new poetry territory.
DeleteStornello on. Hee hee! What fun - new to me and now I will try! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it Irene. Have fun with Stornello poems.
DeleteI'm super impressed that you rhymed "discombobulated!" Well played! -- Mary Lee
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lee. I merely investigated, estimated and calculated and eventually I was indoctrinated!
DeleteI come from a long line of loudmouthed Italians. Now I wonder if all those loud, late-night banterings might've been stornellos!
ReplyDeleteAh bellisimo, Patricia. Love it as a possibility.
DeleteThis looks like a fun form to try, Alan. Thanks for the introduction!
ReplyDeleteStornello are short and sweet, Rose.
DeleteI like your metal gray in the first poem, it describes the scene well. And I especially like the "Chill Pill" poem, discombobulated is such a fun word, and you've slipped it seamlessly into the heaviness of our times, Thanks for sharing this new stornello poem form Alan!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your keen observations, Michelle. Much appreciated.
DeleteI love learning about new forms. This one would have me quaking if I were confronted with it in person and expected to partake in a poetry throwdown on the spot, lol. Thanks for sharing this, Alan.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, Karen, there is another option and I was quite happy to take it. Pressure averted.
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