Terza Rima or Diaspora Sonnet

The Terza Rima or Diaspora Sonnet, appeared in England in the 19th century. It makes use of the interweaving pattern and forward movement of the Italian Terza Rima. This variation of the sonnet is written in tercets with an interlocking rhyme scheme and concludes with a refrain or invocation in the form of a heroic couplet.

The defining features of the Terza Rima Sonnet are:
• a quatorzain, made up of 4 tercets and concluding with a rhyming couplet.
• metric, iambic pentameter.
• composed with a volta (a non physical gap) or pivot (a shifting or tilting of the main line of thought) sometime after the 2nd tercet.
• similar to the Spenserian Sonnet in which the poem progresses forward developing the metaphor, conflict, idea or question. The epiphany of the poem arrives logically in the couplet.
• rhymed with up to 6 rhymes with an interlocking rhyme scheme is
 aba bcb cdc ded ff.
• written so that the concluding rhyming couplet serves as a refrain or invocation.

Pasted from <http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?showtopic=1043>

The first specifications I used and have posted above were from
http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?showtopic=1043

The following I am adding on 10/05/12, as al alternative for I am suspect we shall find both versions
in the field.

Although purists state all sonnets should be Iambic Pentameter, any meter or line length may be used, as long as all the lines are of the same length and meter.
The rhyme scheme is that line 2 of each stanza rhymes with lines 1 and 3 of the following stanza, creating an interlocking pattern. In the final stanza, both lines rhyme with line 2 of the preceding tercet.
The Terza Rima sonnet has the following rhyme scheme,
A1. b. A2... b. c. b... c. d. c... d. a. d... A1. A2.

Pasted from <http://www.thepoetsgarret.com/sonnet/rima.html>


Example Poem:

Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Terza Rima Sonnet)


Should you be moved to speak in anger, dear,
I ask that first you test your words alone.
You'll want to be assured your meaning's clear.

If anger stems from blunder of my own
You know that my concern will be repair.
Let's neither utter words we can't disown.

Be sure the words you say are truly fair.
Mistakes may not be cause for placing blame.
Delay harsh words, then later clear the air.

The words when heated likely will inflame
response I'd never give with common thought.
you know your dulcet tones will win the game.

My love, use whispers closely late tonight.
I love you, honey; I will make it right.


(c) Lawrencalot - September 25, 2012



A1bA2 bcb cdc dad A1A2 or  aba bcb cdc ded ff

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