Who knew that A Poetry Handbook would be good for so many new words?
This week, I learned words that describe rhyme from page 59 of A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver.
I would have guessed couplet — that’s just when line 1 rhymes with line 2 and line 3 rhymes with line 4 (aa bb cc dd, etc). Tercet, or triplet is the same, only with three rhyming lines (aaa bbb ccc ddd, etc).
I remember the word quatrain, but I didn’t remember the rhyming pattern — it’s abab cdcd, etc.
I don’t recall ever hearing the term terza rima (according to Wikipedia, I would have if I’d ever studied Dante). The scheme is aba bcb cdc ded, etc. That looks like it would be fun to write, or a big head ache, depending on the mood of the poet.
Did you remember these terms? Or ever learn them in the first place?
Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by Bermudaonion’s Weblog. Kathy says: “Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading.”