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The Rhyming Couplet
This is the form that practically everybody knows and is encouraged
to write.
It is almost certainly what people will associate with poetry, and
any spontaneous verse will use this end rhyme.
A couplet is a pair of lines where the last words of each line
rhyme.
It is what we can see from the last two lines of the sonnets
we’ve discussed:
so precious are true friends who lend their
ears
and give their time to wipe away sad tears.
Joy Saunders
….. Nodding perfume. In my garden birds
sing,
Roses bloom, and I am remembering.
Josie Falla
These examples have the same syllable count in both lines, 10. It is
common in couplets that lines are the same length as it gives a
natural rhythm. This form is often, quite rightly, criticised for
‘obvious’ rhymes – cat with mat, moon with June – and it is a good
idea to avoid the obvious unless it is perfect for meaning. Always
try to look for the unusual, the different, it’s your poem, so put
your mark on it. Don’t make it a ‘clunking’ rhyme that everyone else
may have written. Writing about Edinburgh, John Bird has used the
place names or local events to link as the end rhymes:
…where you can take a rest on Arthur’s seat
when you tire of the throng on Princes Street
and similarly
…where the east wind blows across the Braids
up the legs of kilties on parades
If you read these aloud you will notice how freely these examples
read because the stress and rhythm is correct: there is a natural
emphasis in the rhythm of the lines. You wouldn’t say PARades, the
emphasis would be parADES, which rises with the BRAIDS in the
preceding line.If you tap your foot while reading you’ll again
follow the rhythm:
where you can / take a rest on / Arthur’s
seat
when you tire / of the throng on / Princes Street
and again the couplets have the same syllable count, 10 and 10 in
the first example, 9 and 9 in the second. I would strongly suggest
you look at examples you may have written and maybe not too happy
with and adjust the syllable count to match. You’ll be amazed at the
difference. I confess I do this with all my couplets poetry:
No sound of traffic and on a springtime
night (11)
a Falmouth horizon, a harbour-view sight;
(11)
Your Turn
As with the sonnets earlier, I would like you to submit your poetry
to me, this time of course in rhyming couplets. Try to pick a
subject that will interest many but be thought of by few. Use the
suggestions above and enjoy! I would suggest a poem of around 12
lines or so, therefore 6 pairs of couplets. I will publish a
selection on the site for all visitors – and we have a lot – to
enjoy. Use the
site email
with ‘Couplets’ in the heading. I look
forward to seeing your submissions and please contact me if there’s
anything you are unsure about.
Best Wishes,
Ronnie Goodyer
Development
Here at poetry at laterlife we will be continuing our series of
verse forms. There is no hard and fast order with this agenda so if
there is anything you are particularly interested in, just drop me a
line. Also forthcoming will be themed competitions with various
awards and, subject to demand, our own anthologies. Although it is
well in advance, one scheme is to publish an anthology prior to
Christmas to give personal gift opportunities. Details of this will
be forthcoming shortly.
Contact
Please send submissions, comments, queries to me at:
POETRY
AT LATERLIFE
ensuring that you use pal as part of the email heading.
If you would like to receive details of Reach poetry magazine, The
Dawntreader literary magazine or current Indigo Dreams Press poetry
competitions
please email with specific interest to:
INDIGO DREAMS PRESS
Good luck with your creativity and I look forward to welcoming you
as a laterlife poet.
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