Poetry Guide: Triolet
A triolet (IPA: [ˈtɹiːəˌlɨt], or [ˌtɹiːəˈleɪ]) is a poetic form. Its rhyme scheme is ABaAabAB and all lines are in iambic tetrameter; the first, fourth and seventh lines are identical, as are the second and final lines, thereby making the initial and final couplets identical as well.
Examples
- I feel with wonder and surprise
- The hard, hard softness of your touch;
- Then your bright, swift, and careful eyes
- I feel with wonder and surprise.
- Enough, for rage is sure to rise
- If once again, and then not much,
- I feel with wonder and surprise
- The hard, hard softness of your touch.
The form stems from medieval French poets - the earliest written examples are from the late 13th century. Traditionally, the triolet has been a very formal style - and most usually were about love. An effective conventional triolet achieves two things; firstly the naturalness of the refrain and secondly the alteration of the refrain's meaning. Take, for example, the following by Thomas Hardy;
- "Birds At Winter"
- Around the house the flakes fly faster,
- And all the berries now are gone'
- From holly and cotoneaster
- Around the house. The flakes fly! – faster
- Shutting indoors the crumb-outcaster
- We used to see upon the lawn
- Around the house. The Flakes fly faster
- And all the berries now are gone!
- Thomas Hardy
Notice how in the last line the punctuation is altered; this is common although not strictly in keeping with the original form. Furthermore, the fact that the 'berries now are gone' has a new relevance; the birds are going unfed. Triolets are a reasonably rare form; but their concise nature is a good start for new poets. They are used more than anything in cards and love letters - their short beauty makes them a perfect gift.
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