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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Bardic Sonnet


Form introduce by William Kenneth Keller, aka Shades of Bill on Allpoetry
Uses the Shakespearean sonnet form.  (iambic pentameter: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme)
However the form is constrained and enhanced with the following requirements:
1.)The rhyme is to be INTERNAL CROSS RHYME,  not end rhyme. 
This is formally know as INTERLACED RHYME.
The interlaced rhymes should occur within the first 3 feet of the line.
2.)Rather than end rhyme, I would like you to employ a type of alliteration used by Irish poets – 
Which is strict CONSONANT RHYME.
Keep EACH consonant sound the same. (you can ignore the letter, ‘N’.) 
For example: carnage and carpet would NOT alliterate, but carnage and carriage would: 
the ‘K’ sound and ‘R’ sound and ‘G’ sound in ‘carnage’ is reproduced in order with the ‘K’ sound and ‘R’ sound and ‘G’ sound in ‘carriage’ (the letter ‘N’ in ‘carnage’ is ignored.)
3.)The Rhyme scheme is for both cross rhyme and alliteration.


Restated Specifications:
Uses Shakespearian Sonnet format with end-rhyme being replaced by strict consonant rhyme.
Requires Iambic Pentameter.
Requires Interlaced rhyme.

End-Rhyme scheme:     abab cdcd efef gg
Cross-rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef gg

My failed example:

You Ask Too Much

A poet asked the wizard for some rhyme
and for a metronomic type of mind.
"Just why am I now tasked to let rimes roam
where they'd not roamed before, to just what end?"
"For sake of sex as Miller* postulates,"
the poet answered back.  And rhyme was there. 
A metric text removes the irritants.
"I know it," the Wizard said, "You'll find it's here. 
"Can you make me more consonant aware?"
I cried,  "So Welsh and Irish I might write?"
Then he did grumble, "You keep wanting more.
If you decide that skill is worth your vote
I think you'll earn it. Go away, be gone."
I’ll try to learn it. Here I go again.

© Lawrencealot - July 6, 2013

*Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller hypothesizes that rhyme is a form of sexually selected handicap imposed on communication making poetry harder and more reliable as a signal of verbal intelligence and overall fitness.[2]
From Wikipedia


This was supposed to be a Bardic Sonnet, but failed to use all of the consonant sounds in the end-rhyme.  I post it merely to show how you can go astray on this complex if your attention waivers as mine so frequently does.

This was the contest winner.   Not only does it have perfect compliance with all of the requirements, but those who pay attention will notice that is is also an acrostic.

Visual Template





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