Whittled Words – Stornello 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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STORNELLO POEM
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The stornello is an Italian tercet (or 3-line stanza) form with 11 syllables per line and an AAA end rhyme. It is as simple as that!
Note: There is a variant version of the stornello in which the first line of each tercet is shorter than 11 syllables, but it retains the same rhyme scheme while holding 11 syllables in both lines two and three.
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Examples of Stornello Poems:
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THE BIRDS &
By Robert Lee Brewer
bees elevate the solstice with their bumble
& deer celebrate the day as they stumble
through dew-soaked fields filled with lovers who tumble
into twilit mornings after moonlit nights
wandering through shadows & electric lights
bound to surrender to summer’s sweet delights
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FLORE
By Judi Van Gorder
I picked a wine red rose from off the vine,
the prickly thorns drew blood drops oozing crimson.
My love has left me bare, life without design.
I paint a rose in verse just one more time,
join thousands gone before in penning a hymn
to love’s tart fragrance in crimson velvet rhyme.
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LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
By Brad Osborne
We constant strive to learn what life is about
But vision comes from eyes that only look out
To a world around us that is filled with doubt
Close your eyes and let the real learning begin
The veil that blinds our truth is so very thin
All the answers you seek are found from within
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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 Stornello poem. Thanks for reading!
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commonsensiblyspeaking 
love your poem and so spot on!
Thank you, my friend!
I enjoyed how Robert Lee Brewer’s poem picks up from title.
Of course, as always, yours is my favorite! So full of wisdom.
Thank you, my friend!
Definitely enjoyed it and your sample was brilliant!
Thank you, brother! Have a great weekend!
You’re welcome my brother! Have a great weekend!
I am a simple rhyming sort of fellow
So I do enjoy reading each Stornello,
Favoring more the mellow than the bellow.
But writing one is such a trickier thing
As I have not the skill to make the words sing
And dazzle the way they do for Brad the King.
I think we have discovered your secret talent, my friend. You were made to write poetry. Thank you, Geoff!
Poets compose the poetry. I stay in my lane and scribble the doggerel and graffiti.
Bonus points for the use of the word “doggerel”!