What on earth is a triolet? Sounds a bit French yeah? Well, it is.... a bit French. But it's also a bit of other countries too, because although the poetry form originated in France, it has evolved and has been adapted so many times it's now positively cosmopolitan.
A triolet is almost always a poem of eight lines - an octave if you will - but it can be seven or nine lines too. Take your pick. The distinctive feature of the triolet though, is its repetition of lines. Three in fact, hence the moniker. I won't go into all the crappy details and boring technicalities of the triolet. Instead, I will give you an example from my own portfolio of poetry: Here's one of my triolets called Angels without Wings:
There in the depths of the eternal soul
There is a wondering beyond finite things
We ponder in our hearts a God-shaped hole
There in the depths of the eternal soul
We deeply yearn for something to console
And thus we fall as angels without wings
There in the depths of the eternal soul
There is a wondering beyond finite thingsSteve Wheeler © 25 June, 2022
You can see that the first and second line are repeated in lines seven and eight. But the first line is also repeated before that, in line four. Lines 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 have end rhymes, while 2, 6 and 8 also rhyme. And that's about it, apart from the rhythm of the lines, which can be in iambic pentameter (10 syllables) or just about any other iamb combination.
So go forth and multiply - write your own triolet and share it here. I will be sure to comment on it.
Steve Wheeler
Image from Pixabay via a Creative Commons Licence
Thank you for your expertise yet again.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing stars above my head...😄need to study it again
ReplyDeleteGo over it as much as you like. It isn't going away ;)
DeleteI hate those headlines that say "Study finds" proclaiming as fact what is usually a tentative conclusion. So here's my Triolet.
ReplyDeleteStudy finds ...
Misleading headlines end with "Study finds"
Some random tale they want to sell to you.
Relying on the adage "Science blinds"
Misleading headlines end with "Study finds"
Revealing knowledge that will blow your minds.
But real science finds it's not quite true:
Misleading headlines end with "Study finds"
Some random tale they want to sell to you
I like the tempo of this one Iain. It really flows nicely, especially seeing that you wrote it in iambic pentameter.
DeleteFirst attempt at a triolet, (and using a blog) hope its correct
ReplyDeleteDeath of day
Curse the night, it ends the day
The dark it summons up fear
Pray the blackness kept at bay
Curse the night, it ends the day
Light I long for as I lay
Pray for all that I hold dear
Curse the night, it ends the day
The dark it summons up fear
Dale Parsons
Great work Dale. I only have one (small) critique: It almost scans, but is one beat short in line 2 and 8. The inclusion of the word 'the' before fear would improve the tempo. See Brandon's post today on the 'melody' or poetry.
DeletePlunge and Surge
ReplyDeleteAs the waves crash upon the salty shore,
I sit, silent watching them plunge and surge.
Pacifies, placates, inner peace restore,
As the waves crash upon the salty shore.
Reach a crescendo, provide an encore,
My heart, soul, and mind it does scour and purge.
As the waves crash upon the salty shore,
I sit, silent watching them plunge and surge.
©Donna Smith 30/07/2023
Class poetry
DeleteRead, appreciated, and activated… great little read Steve! Wrote one inspired by this…
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic form to explore rhythm and profound packed messages together!
ReplyDelete