Germanic Sonnet

Germanic Sonnet
Generally Iambic Petameter
Volta at or following line 9
Octet + Sestet
Rhyme scheme: abbabccb cddcdd

This is a presentation invented by Jose Rizal M. Reyes of the Philippines, however the Germanic Sonnet, I found after posting this has been around for hundreds of years and is not new. Volta is typically at line 9, but could be at line 12, too.

The traditional Germanic Sonnet has a rhyme scheme of:

.. a. b. b. a. . . b. c. c. b. . . c. d. d. . . c. d. d.
I do not believe presenting the tercets as a sestet should qualify this as a new form.

Example Poem:

Straight Talk Volta (Germanic Sonnet)

Didactic poems can be used to teach.
An autologic poem may espouse
itself, defining what its form allows.
And either type can be set forth to preach.
They usually show the wheres and hows.
A sonnets heart, (the volta or the turn)
is not a trick that manual writers learn.
So what's a poet faced with to arouse?

Well, stop and tell the whys that you discern
once you've instructed well.  A twist is made,
the sonnet sighs, stands tall, and you've not strayed
from form.  You may if need 'ere you adjourn
return to central theme, a point delayed,
for emphasis; and beautifully displayed.

© Lawrencealot, Oct. 17, 2012


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