Quatre-par-Huit (Four-by-Eight) Octa-Quad, new form by Cleo - Jan 01 2006 Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Quatre-par-Huit (for those who enjoy tetrameter) – created Jan 01 2006 by Lorraine M Kanter

In the tradition of the Trois-par-Huit poetic form I created last December, I’ll call this variation:  Quatre-par-Huit

This 'Four by Eight’ or ‘Octa-Quad’ has similar rules as that of the Trois-par-Huit in that it is a poem containing 8 lines, displayed visually with three stanzas of either tercet, tercet, couplet  (3, 3, 2) OR tercet, couplet, tercet (3, 2, 3) and looks best when center aligned as follows;

1. The title is also the final line.

The line length requirements:
Line 1 ~ 4 syllables
Line 2 ~ 8 syllables
Line 3 ~ 12 syllables

Line 4 ~ 16 syllables
Line 5 ~ 16 syllables

Line 6 ~ 12 syllables
Line 7 ~ 8 syllables
Line 8 ~ 4 syllables (is the title and summarizes the meaning of the poem)

The rhyme scheme requirements:
Line 1. A
Line 2. A
Line 3. B
Line 4. B
Line 5. B
Line 6. C
Line 7. C
Line 8. C


 

Quatre-par-Huit

Tetrameter
makes this form all the more sweeter
like it’s sister, the Trois-par-Huit, this eight line verse

begins with four, the ovation at sixteen; each line will traverse
two tercets and one couplet: with a mid-point turn back to disperse
in a diamond-like shape and a triple-rhymed beat

it’s title once more will repeat…
Quatre-par-Huit

Why not give this a try?
~Cleo  

[AMETHYST]

Hi Ron,


Although I think you offered this as a humorous example, I think you've done quite well. If you wouldn't mind, I might have a little dance with it!

                             I write to form.
                  To please dear Cleo is my norm.
         At least I'll try or die in my attempts to please.
   But why should I ally myself with beats of eight? A tease!
   For Cleo dear, you're never near and vows make you HIS squeeze!
         My motivation's missing! Must I make my mark?*
                   My missing muse has muffled ev'ry spark.
                             It's not my lark!

I like the contrast of L1, L8 The way they both state a fact, and allows the body of the poem to draw the ideas of poetry and skill, which show the work and efforts that go into form. And then, the final line ... "It's not my lark!" just tops it off like a cherry on a Hot Fudge Sundae... Yummm.

The reference to Cleo, (when the reader is familliar with MM and Lori's astonishing work and efforts to benefit her members with knowledge and learning material so we can learn and develope in form,) shows this reader that you consider others when writing your poetry.

I think your final 3 lines are the most powerful. A few tweaks within L3,4 and 5--could flesh this out as for meaning. I was left a little confused! But then again, I live in a confused state (that would be Florida) LOL

Hugs, Liz