Whittled Words – Seguidilla Poem

Posted by Brad Osborne on March 18, 2022 · 16 Comments 

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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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SEGUIDILLA POEM

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I am a big fan of French forms, but there is something special about the Spanish forms I find from time to time. That includes this week’s form the seguidilla.

Seguidilla is one of those poetic forms that started off as a song before eventually settling on an established poetic form. Specifically, seguidilla began as a dance song.

So here are the basic rules:

• 7-line poem
• Syllable count for each line is 7-5-7-5-5-7-5
• Rhyme scheme is xAxABxB
• One assonance rhyme between lines 2 and 4; another one between lines 5 and 7
• Composed with a volta or change of thought between lines 4 and 5–usually an end stop

And for those interested to know the definition of assonance, here it is:

Assonance is a literary device in which the repetition of similar vowel sounds takes place in two or more words in proximity to each other within a line of poetry. Assonance most often refers to the repetition of internal vowel sounds in words that do not end the same. For example, “he fell asleep under the cherry tree” is a phrase that features assonance with the repetition of the long “e” vowel, although the words containing this vowel do not end in perfect rhymes. This allows writers the means of emphasizing important words in a phrase or line, as well as creating a sense of rhythm, enhancing mood, and offering a lyrical effect of words and sounds.

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Examples of Seguidilla Poems:

 

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THE DARKNESS

 

By Robert Lee Brewer

 

When the clouds capture the moon
never to release,
I wander without purpose
solitary streets.
Each song sung in Spain
reminds me why darkness
surrounds me again.

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UNTITLED

 

By Paul Hansford

So quiet now, the ripples

lapping on the shore

scarcely disturb the silence

– a whisper, no more.

But who knows the power

the growing breakers may have

in another hour?

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AUTUMN FALL

 

By Russel Sivey

 

Fields lay expressive, alone

Where the leaves inward

Express their timely demise

Color lies outward

Open the breeze

Brings down the colors of fall

All kindly agrees

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THE SPICE MARKET

 

By Brad Osborne

 

 A cacophony of scents

Weaving evening air,

As patrons do their shopping,

Vendors ply their wares.

Because every life,

Just like every rustic meal,

Needs a little spice.

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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 Seguidilla poem. Thanks for reading!

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Filed under Whittled Words · Tagged with challenge, examples, meter, poem, poems, Poetry, poetry forms, poetry styles, rhyme scheme, seguidilla, stanza, verse, Whittled Words, writers, writing poetry