Whittled Words – Byr A Thoddaid Poem
Welcome to the weekly series, Whittled Words. A series highlighting the innumerable types and styles of poetry to challenge any creative wordsmith. This week’s selection:
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BYR A THODDAID POEM
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If you couldn’t tell from the name, the byr a thoddaid is a Welsh form (like the gwawdodyn). And true to most Welsh forms, it is a good challenge. Here, are the rules:
- The byr a thoddaid is a quatrain (4-line stanza) or series of quatrains
- The quatrain itself is divided into two combined couplets (2-line stanza)
- One couplet contains 8 syllables for each line with an aa end rhyme
- The other couplet contains 10 syllables in the first line and 6 syllables in the second
- The 10-syllable line of this other couplet has an end rhyme near the end of the line (but not at the end)
- The 6-syllable line of this other couplet has a link (either rhyme, alliteration, etc.) to the end word of the 10-syllable line and then an end rhyme
- The couplets can appear in alternating orders
I realize the explanation might sound complicated, but it’s not too bad.
Here are the two main options:
X’s represent non-rhyming syllables; capital letters represent rhyming syllables; lower-case letters (that aren’t x’s) represent the linked words/sounds/etc.
Option 1:
xxxxxxxA
xxxxxxxA
xxxxxxxBxc
xcxxxB
Option2:
xxxxxxxAxb
xbxxxA
xxxxxxxC
xxxxxxxC
Note: The linked sound in the second line of the 10-6 couplet can be the first sound, first syllable, second sound, second syllable, etc.–just as long as it’s near the beginning of that second line.
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Examples of Byr a Thoddaid Poems:
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GODSPEED
by Robert Lee Brewer
(Example of both variations)
As the storm warned us with thunderous sounds
sending us asunder
to our individual homes
before the rain could chill our bones,
we imagined we ran for life
itself–as if the lightning might
find our footsteps and strike us dead as nails
as snails hid fast their heads.
~~~
HENHOUSE MYSTERY
By Taylor Graham
Her sisters seven all are dead,
vanished night by day. Now we dread
to lose our last chick. To what foe? What killed
them? Build us tall and low,
she lives on bugs and shadows dark as day
and plays tricks on my arm.
I hammer at the world. She leaps
on my hammer. She sings in cheeps.
~~~
THE ART OF KNOWING
By Deandre Long
The less sanity you have, the more you
think you’re sane – and the world is full of fools.
So how do you know if you truly know
that no one knows you fully?
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LEFT BEHIND
By Brad Osborne
(Example of both variations)
The bugle call fills battlefield
Men bang their swords on iron shields
Warring heart of man then in hate is bled
A dead and dying fate
And ghostly haunts the specter, hooded black
To snack upon the good
The hearty souls that die that day
Beg send them their eternal way
Destiny and thy fates are sealed
Death to any who will not yield
The fallen held in fondest memory
Take me in place of them
For the devil came and left me behind
Defined in tragedy
A sorrow played out by old age
And death becomes as turning page
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I hope you have enjoyed this entry to the series, Whittled Words. I look forward to your comments, and if you dare, maybe share your own Byr a Thoddaid poem. Thanks for reading!
another unusual pattern that you handled with ease. and it’s a shame that many times the survivors are forgotten…
Thanks, Jim! This was certainly one of the most challenging so far!
What a huge challenge, but you mastered it –
Thanks Beth! I would say I survived it.
and lived to tell –
Must say I am learning a lot from this great series that I am absolutely hooked to. A rather complicated form but the poems are quite lovely indeed, yours in particular was very motivating and thought-provoking and of course a most beautiful example of this Welsh poetry style. Thank you so much my friend for such a learning experience! All the best.
Thank you, Francisco! I have some work ahead of me to keep this going, but I have learned a lot from writing it and greatly appreciate all your support. Have a great weekend, my brother!
My pleasure my brother, you too, enjoy a nice, cool Saturday!