Sephallian Reverse Sonnet

The Sephallian Reverse Sonnet

was invented in April, 2013 by poet Dennis Nguyen, aka Sephallia on Allpoetry.com.

The poem is generally presented as a quatrazain since it is intended to be read either from top to bottom, or from bottom up.  There is no prohibition to

presenting it in stanzas.

The DEFINING characteristic of this form is that when read in the normal fashion, the poem has a pessimistic tone, but when read from bottom to top, it becomes and optimistic poem.

The rhyme scheme is abcdeedcbaffa and may optionally be written as a refrain sonnet as A1bcdeedcbA2ffA2A1.

Meter and line-length are at the poet's discretion.

Volta, which is recommended, but not demanded, can occur anywhere between L4 and L11. The poem can have one in each direction.

This is a challenging and rewarding form.

Example Poem

A Measure of Character(Sephiallan Reverse Sonnet)

What you are told in confidence

if you hold secret to your breast

reward will flow in unknown ways.

An urge to propagate a tale

to pique the interest of a friend

there can surely be no good end

when confidences you assail

a gentle whispered word betrays

when silence serves your honor best

Your revelation makes no sense

I'll never trust my thoughts with you

if other's secrets you will spew

If rumors gain some cognizance

From what you're told in confidence .

© Lawrencealot - April 15, 2013

Visual  Template

The template below represents an Iambic tetrameter

sonnet, without  a refrain.  the shaded lines indicate

where the refrains would occur if one were chosen.

Transitive Sonnet

This is a sonnet form created by Larry Eberhart, aka Lawrencealot
which has its roots the non-sonnet form Monometric.

It is a chameleon type sonnet, because it CANNOT be identified by looking at its apparent rhyme scheme.

It is Stanzaic with couplets and tercets enveloping a quatrain
Meter is of the poet's choice
Line length is 8 to 13 syllables (accommodating feminine rhyme)
Recommended: Iambic  tetrameter or pentameter
Rhyme scheme: aa bbb cccc bbb aa

The sonnet takes its name from the fact that the second occurrence of rhyme set may have its true rhyme sound changed by the use of any device such as slant rhyme (heart, star or milk, walk),assonance, consonance,  eye rhyme (date, temperate), or heteronyms.

Note: such rhymes may be used anytime or never.   Transition is NOT required, only ALLOWED.

Example Poem

Child

I'm saving treasures in a dresser drawer:
a diaper pin, the little shoes you wore
with jingles in the laces, a barrette
still clasping strands of wispy hair. They whet
my hankering for things I can't forget.

Before our paths converged, I held a view
of easy, unobstructed passage through
the challenges of motherhood. I knew
exactly what to do at twenty-two.

But that was long before my stumbling feet
were pressed into the coals, the searing heat
of constant battle forcing my retreat.
And though you've plunged my heart into despair
a thousand nights, I can't forget to care.

(c) Mary Sullivan Boren  - March, 2013

Visual Template

Envelope Sonnet

Envelope Sonnet

Type:	Structure, Metrical Requirement, Rhyme Scheme Requirement, Isosyllabic, Pivot Requirement
Description:	An otherwise normal sonnet with rhyme scheme abbacddc efgefg or abbacddc efefef.
Schematic:	Rhyme scheme: abbacddc efgefg or abbacddc efefef Pivot: Between 8 and 9 Meter:  Iambic Pentameter, usually in English.

Pasted from <http://www.poetrybase.info/forms/001/119.shtml> 

Example Poem

Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Envelope Sonnet)

Should you be moved to speak in anger, dear,

I ask that first you test your words alone.

If anger stems from blunder of my own

You'll want to be assured your meaning's clear.

If meaning's very clear, then is it fair?

Is it essential now that blame be found;

will such proceed toward a common ground?

Are these first words intended to repair?

Perhaps, the words should simply disappear

for now, until your anger can abate.

Let's lie together in our bed tonight

If I have stumbled I'll get straight, don't fear.

I'll listen, think, and I'll appreciate.

Speak whispers to me love, I'll make it right.

© Lawrencealot - Sept 2, 2012

13 Line Sonnet

The 13 Line Sonnet  is a from created by Marcy Jarvis, aka ea of Allpoetry.

The defining characteristic of the form is that any standard fourteen line sonnet which ends in a

rhyming couplet, is converted to 13 lines by provided internal rhyme within that line.

The poet may use flexibility in selecting  rhyming syllables to accommodate feminine rhyme or the meter chosen.

Obviously this cannot be applied to an Italian Sonnet with prohibits final couplet rhyme.

Note also that if the poet chooses a sonnet form like the Betwixt Sonnet, which requires the couplet to rhyme with an earlier line, ( In this case abba cbbc dbbc bb ) the 13th line rhymes must match that specified rhyme.

Example Poem

Shall I Be Ruled

A sonnet dear, you most completely write

on tablet made of stone, already lined. 

That's all she expects from bards of realm. 

The gods decreed that maiden shall be mine. 

Expand, compress; do both and overwhelm. 

In winning, might I still chalk up a loss? 

By bending early to controlling will 

do I establish pretty maid as boss? 

Will all my future journeys be uphill? 

Forsooth! I'll take the maid! I'm not afraid. 

 © Lawrencealot January 1, 2013

Storm Sonnet

This is a sonnet form created by Mark A. Whittington-Buckley, aka Stormy22 on Allpoetry.

This is a stanzaic sonnet consisting of 3 quatrains and a couplet

The rhyme pattern is abcc deff ghii jj

It is normally written in iambic pentameter

But the poet may choose trochaic , (the poet may also choose to pen in tetrameter)

The volta or turn is to occur at or following line 9.

Example Poem

We've Been Big-Bangwashed   (Storm Sonnet )

When theories become so manifest

To question. is to don the dunces cap,

the cliques and guilds are apt to take offense

at any view , to them not making sense.

Advanced math models beyond reason's realm

with black unknowns PROVE model is correct.

The Big old Bang promoted as though law

is theory, and now we've found a flaw.

When Hubble  posited the universe

expands, deduce from Doppler  measurements

now known to scientists as the red-shift

it "proved" the model was their greatest gift.

But now clear thinking folks have found indeed,

that other forces add to red-shift speed.

  © Lawrencealot - February 24, 2012

Visual Template