The Triolet
In the triolet, you don’t get to say much, not many words that is, so
you have to say it well. This form requires you to be stringent. The basic triolet
is an eight line stanza. You can write as many stanzas as you like, but each
will be eight lines. It works with repetition and rhyme, but does not require any
specific meter.
Here is a definition adapted from poets.org: The triolet is a short
poem of eight lines with only two rhymes used throughout. The first line is
repeated in the fourth and seventh lines; the second line is repeated in the
final line; and only the first two end-words are used to complete the tight
rhyme scheme. The poet writes only five original lines, giving the triolet a
deceptively simple appearance.
You start by writing the first two lines. They do not rhyme with each
other, but they set the rhyme scheme. The first of these two lines will also become
the fourth and seventh lines. The second of the first two lines will become the
eighth and final line of the stanza.
Here are the first two lines of my triolet “One More”:
Before Barbara there
were none
then they
adopted Josephine, too, before
These lines will be repeated as mentioned above and the rhyme scheme is
now set. Line 3 and line 5 will rhyme with the word “none” and line 6 will line with the word “before”.
Here are the next few lines:
they had their own
born-to-them son.
Before Barbara there
were none.
Did they really want one
more?
Two girls, one son, and
then one more,
The final two
lines are a repetition of the first two lines. Here is the whole stanza:
Before Barbara there
were none
then they adopted
Josephine, too, before
they had their own
born-to-them son.
Before Barbara there
were none.
Did they really want one
more?
Two girls, one son, and
then one more,
before Barbara there
were none,
then they adopted
Josephine, too, before.
Here’s another definition, a bit more
technical: Triolet: an eight-line poem with two rhymes and two refrain
lines, ABaAabAB (the capital As and Bs represent the repeated lines). . .
The triolet has a strict formality. The first two lines establish the subject.
The repetition of the fourth line creates a lyric intensity. The fifth and
sixth lines take on a sudden air of freedom and tend to expand the subject
matter. the final lines tightly knit the conclusion. A key feature of the
triolet is how the poet plays with the repeated lines to change the meaning as
the poem proceeds. – from A Poet’s Glossary by Edward Hirsch
Here is the
line scheme and repetition mapped out.
1. A
2. B
3. a Rhymes with 1st line.
4. A identical or nearly so to 1st line.
5. a Rhymes with 1st line.
6. b Rhymes with 2nd line.
7. A Identical or nearly so to 1st line.
8. B Identical or nearly so to 2nd line.
2. B
3. a Rhymes with 1st line.
4. A identical or nearly so to 1st line.
5. a Rhymes with 1st line.
6. b Rhymes with 2nd line.
7. A Identical or nearly so to 1st line.
8. B Identical or nearly so to 2nd line.
Here is an example of a triolet that has nearly identical repetition of the line.
Last
Chance at Reconciliation by Joshua Mehigan
He’s certain
where he’s headed it’s too late.
West Broadway
glitters in a mist of rain
that amber
cones of light elucidate.
He’s
certain. Where he’s headed, it’s too late
to stop for
flowers, dry off, or get things straight:
a story, his
misshapen hat, his brain.
He’s certain
where he’s headed. It’s too late.
West
Broadway glitters in a mist of rain.
Here’s another example where the words are the same, but the punctuation
changes.
Triolet
on a Line Apocryphally Attributed to Martin Luther by A.E. Stallings
Why should the Devil get all the
good tunes,
The booze and the neon and Saturday
night,
The swaying in darkness, the lovers
like spoons?
Why should the devil get all the
good tunes?
Does he hum them to while away sad
afternoons
And the long, lonesome Sundays? Or
sing them for spite?
Why should the Devil get all the
good tunes,
The booze and the neon and Saturday
night?
In my own poem, there is a play on the title.
My parents had four children. I was the last, the final “one more” and the poem
itself has one more stanza. The final line of the second stanza repeats the
names listed in the second line, but using our more familiar names or even
nicknames. This is from my book Breathe Here (North Country Press, 2020).
Here is the whole poem:
One More
Before
Barbara there were none
then they
adopted Josephine, too, before
they had
their own born-to-them son.
Before
Barbara there were none.
Did they
really want one more?
Two girls,
one son, and then one more,
before
Barbara there were none,
then they
adopted Josephine, too, before.
Two
daughters, one son, one more.
Barbara,
Josephine, Daniel, and me.
They didn’t
live to see us mature,
two
daughters, one son, one more.
Even with
one, two, three, then four,
it was
lonely in our family tree.
Two
daughters, one son, one more.
Barbara, Jo,
Danny, and Honey.
Recommended Reading
Handbook of Poetic Forms by Ron
Padgett
The Making of a Poem:
A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms by Mark Strand and Eavan Boland, eds
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