Whittled Words – Ottava Rima Poem
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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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OTTAVA RIMA
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With an Italian origin, the earliest known use of the ottava rima poetry form dates back to the fourteenth century, when the form was introduced into the Italian literary scene by poet Giovanni Boccaccio. Two of his major works, the Teseide and the Filostrato were poems that would popularize the format in epic poetry for the next two centuries—leading into the sixteenth century when Ludovico Ariosto wrote one of the most famous works of Italian literature, Orlando Furioso. The format found its popularity among Elizabethan poets, and its structure has been used in some of the most notable poems of all time. In English, Lord Byron used the form to write Don Juan. More contemporary English poets to use the form include, William Butler Yeats and Kenneth Koch.
Ottava Rima are 8 lines with an abababcc rhyme scheme, was originally written in eleven syllable lines, Lord Byron had adapted it to iambic pentameter (or 10-syllable lines) for his epic Don Juan. You will find examples of both syllabic counts in use today. The form can work as a stand-alone poem or be used as connecting stanzas.
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Examples of Ottava Rima Poems:
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UNENLIGHTENED
By Beth Evans
I was trying to find my way in the dark,
Groping blindly about to find the light switch,
I suppose I made some unpleasant remark,
Something that may have been “Lord,, what a *****!”
I was just about to stop searching and park,
My side was starting to develop a stitch,
Anyway, when something hit my you-know-what
I cursed God in heaven before I forgot.
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DON JUAN
(Lines 1 – 8 of Canto I)
By Lord Byron
I want a hero: an uncommon want,
When every year and month sends forth a new one,
Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant,
The age discovers he is not the true one;
Of such as these I should not care to vaunt,
I ‘ll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan—
We all have seen him, in the pantomime,
Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time.
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HER MOTHER”S SECRET
By Caren Krutsinger
Paint on her fingers and paint in her hair
Dad thought her love for art crazy and rash
She was an artist and she did not care
No matter that he could blither and bash
Attitude she did not readily share
Her mother understood and gave her cash
Guarded secret known by only a few
Her dream had been to be an artist too.
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TRUE
By Brad Osborne
My fingernails dig in until made sore
A death hold upon the slightest of dreams
But what is it I am holding on for
In a world where nothing is what it seems
Letting go will only my fall assure
And truth sequestered to the in-betweens
I long to hear the words spoken by you
But only if your words can be seen true
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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 Ottava Rima poem. Thanks for reading!
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Well my friend another wonderful edition. A nice style that this one is for sure, and Lord Byron in there…cheers my good friend and all the best. A happy Friday to you!
Thank you, my friend!
Always a pleasure my friend!
I’m all about the truth or nothing at all
I am with you, Beth! Thank you!
I like this style…
your poem reminds me a bit of a line from a song by The Killers:
“if you can hold on, hold on”
(although I’m never sure if the word is can or can’t)…
Thank you, Jim!
What a lovely style. As usual I enjoyed yours the most. What a beautiful romantic piece. I love every line.
I am just getting to comments today and noticed yours disappeared. I hope they fell under pending. I would be sad if they dropped off somehow. Have a wonderful evening Brad. Love, Jonikins
Great work Brad. Sending my love and hand cut flowers. Love, Jonikins love
Thank you, Jonikins! I hope you are getting my comments in return. Much love to you and yours!