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LAIAt first glance the Lai looks to be a very simple form comprising of five syllabled couplets separated by a two syllable line. These lines must all rhyme with one another. In English this line is probably the most difficult part of the poem. This is a very old French form and tradition states that the short line must not be indented, it must be left dressed to the poem. This is known as Arbre Fourchu (Forked Tree) there is a pattern meant to be set up as a tree. The number of lines in each stanza is fixed at nine. The number of stanzas is not fixed and each stanza has its own rhyme pattern. Here is a simple example of a Lai:
Lai Nouveau.A much harder form than the Lai and has an eight line stanza. It is similar in idea to the Villanelle. In this case the first two lines are the refrain and are used as the last lines of the subsequent verses. The last stanza includes both lines but in reverse order to the original. This is the rhyme pattern: A1.A2.b.a.a.b.a.a....a.a.b.a.a.b.a.A1... a.a.b.a.a.b.a.A2....and if this were the last stanza a.a.b.a.a.b.A2.A1. The difficulty with this form is of course picking a rhyme pattern that is strong enough to last even two stanza. The alternative rhyme can vary from stanza to stanza. The Virelai;This is an adaptation of the Lai and uses the short lines to set the rhyme pattern of the next stanza. The last stanza linking back to the first by setting the rhyme of its short ones to the 5 syllable line of the first. It has a rhyme pattern a.a.b.a.a.b.a.a.b....b.b.c.b.b.c.b.b.c and if this were the last stanza c.c.a.c.c.a.c.c.a. Here is a very unusual example of Virelai:
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Lori MartinSo life is a race, a mountain we face and climb; setting a fair pace o'er distance of space and time? Rather than such chase stop, savour and taste life's wine. back to list |
Galadrial Myst(or Speed Reading Has Its Advantages) My binding is shed like the book much read; no pun. Intended words dead 'fore falling in bed past sun set and rise, aches head the words left unsaid-- you won. back to list |
Leny RooversHands stroking softly Skin glowing faintly Sweet cries Lips meeting gently Tongues searching sweetly Soft sighs Bodies arch strongly Voices cry loudly Wet dries. back to list |
Teagan De DanaanDig your fingers in Watch it spin and spin Life's clay Shape it, press them in. Feel the shape begin. Each day Watch! See it forming. Then fire the kiln. And pray. See as the clay dries Before your eyes Your scheme The shape you realise Did you visualise Or mean Non of us are wise Do not eulogise Your dream. back to list |
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