Huitain, eight lines ~ one rhyme in four lines, two in two lines each Options

[JustDaniel]

Huitain was a French verse form of an eight-line stanza with 8 or 10 syllables in each line, often iambic. It was written with three rhymes, one of them utilized in four lines. There were a number of rhyme schemes, like ababbcbc and abbaacac. Un huitain enlace is an enclosed huitain which has a rhyme scheme: aabaabcc.

The huitain evidently was popular in France in the 15th and early 16th centuries with such poets as François Villon and Clément Marot.

The Huitain went by a syllable count of eight originally, but with the fondness for English iambic pentameter, has also been seen with 10 syllables. The variations are all variations on the rhyme scheme; however, there is one type of pattern all variations follow: There must be one set of four rhyming words, and two sets of two rhyming words.
French/English #1: a, b, a, b, b, c, b, c
French/English #2: a, b, b, a, a, c, a, c
Spanish #1: a, b, a, b, a, c, a, c
Spanish #2: a, b, b, a, a, c, c, a


Here are two examples of my more laid-back version of un huitain enlace ( aabaabcc ):


Huitain Puzzle

Some poets are hobbled with stricture;
but pacing yourself can help pick your
precisely-voiced sound in the words.
huitains could again be a fixture;
you’ve eight lines for painting a picture
restored from French countryside sherds.
So piece them together with patience,
if only to rid your frustrations.

© Daniel J Ricketts 31 Jan 2005


it’shuit to be a cat

An outside cat can make a mess
inside your house, it seems, unless
you let it out each time it asks
to run about and more or less
do what it wants. Then it will bless
its servant, in whose smile it basks;
so long as there’s sufficient food
and room to rest… all will be good.

© Daniel J Ricketts 08 March 2004


Now... enjoy experimenting with the form. Maybe we can revive it!

[heartsong7]

The Huitain is an old form from France, with several variations developing over time. It is a wonderfully flexible form which can be as short as the required eight lines, or can continue in eight line sets for as long as you wish. This is another great form for collaboration, with each poet developing their own eight line sequence.

The Huitain went by a syllable count of eight originally, but with the fondness for English iambic pentameter, has also been seen with 10 syllables. The variations are all variations on the rhyme scheme, however, there is one type of pattern all variations follow. There must be one set of four rhyming words, and two sets of two rhyming words.
French/English #1: a, b, a, b, b, c, b, c
French/English #2: a, b, b, a, a, c, a, c
Spanish #1: a, b, a, b, a, c, a, c
Spanish #2: a, b, b, a, a, c, c, a

One thing I've really enjoyed about this form is the flexibility of the rhyme scheme. Only requirement as stated above is:
There must be one set of four rhyming words, and two sets of two rhyming words.
This scheme is:
a a b a a b c c
in iambic tetrameter, but iambic pentameter is also used sometimes.

Uninvited Guests

The fire’s flames are burning low,
though embers still emit a glow
still hot enough to cook a meal
of beans and wieners, done just so.
Four racoon eyes enjoy the show
and scan for tempting scraps to steal.
We eat our fill, then watch them come,
as if demanding–“give us some!”

by:
Susan Eckenrode


Dance with Me

Oh won't you please come dance with me?
We'll swing and sway in ecstasy
beneath a moon that's full and bright.
I'll hold you close and soon you'll see
how great a dancer I can be.
Perhaps we'll even dance all night
and fall in love before the dawn.
Oh no, what's that? Did you just yawn?

by:
Susan Eckenrode