History: DrottkvæðrHistory: Drottkvæðr, which literally means 'recited before the retinue', is an Old Norse verse form resented by Snorri Sturluson in the Edda, composed ca. 1178-1241, in it's section Hattatal ('Enumeration of Meters'). For more information on the Edda, click here (link pending). Structure: • Each stanza has 8 lines broken down into 2 half...Read More

History: The Empat PerkataanHistory: The Empat Perkataan is a traditional Southeast Asian form originating from the Malaccan empire around the 15th century. It was popular in the Riau Archipelago and Malay Peninsula, and is associated with languages such as Malay, Tagalog, Sundanese and Javanese, although examples can be found in English as well. The word Empat is...Read More

History: An Englyn is a traditional Welsh and Cornish short poetry form. It has been found in the earliest Welsh literature, from the 5th century AD, and the earliest were found written in the margins in a tenth century Juvencus Manuscript. Although there is speculation that it’s creation can be sourced in Latin poetry and...Read More

History: The FloretteHistory: The Florette is a new/"invented" form created in 2009 by Jan Turner. Structure: • abba rhyme scheme • quatrain with syllable count of 8/8/8/12 • internal (b) rhyme on syllable 8 of 4th line Sources: http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/florette.html More is a new/”invented” form created in 2009 by Jan Turner. Structure: abba rhyme scheme quatrain...Read More

History The French RondelHistory The French Rondel is a mideaval French verse form related to the triolet and rondeau, invented in the 14th century and popularized by Charles d’Orleans. Sort of. Like the terms roundel and rondeau, the term rondel in the Middle Ages did not apply to one fixed form but to a “round” song...Read More

All glossary entries are continually being updated. If you have a contribution, let us know.  History: The GhazalAll glossary entries are continually being updated. If you have a contribution, let us know.  History: The Ghazal, also spelled ghazel or gasal, Turkish gazel, and pronounced “guzzle” in some languages and “gu-ZAHL” in others, though in both with a guttural “g” almost...Read More

The GogyohkaThe Gogyohka is a modern Japanese form developed by Enta Kusakabe in 1957. Based on the Tanka and Kodai kayo, Gogyohka literally translates into 5-line poem.  The rules of the Gogyohka are seemingly very simple. The stanza is 5 lines, and each line is its own phrase. What is considered a phrase, however, is...Read More

Goliardic VerseGoliardic Verse History:  Goliardic Verse originated in the Middle Ages, becoming very popular in the 12th century. Although there is a lot of uncertainty as to its origins, there are a few theories and posits. For one, it has been associated with the Ordo Vagorum, a religious “order” of students who shared both a...Read More

History: Previously called Hokku, HaikuHistory: Previously called Hokku, Haiku was given it's name by Masoka Shiki around 1900. Hokku, meaning starting verse, is the opening stanza of a Japanese orthodox collaborative linked poem, renga, or of its later derivative, renku (haikai no renga), and its establishment as an independent verse form is credited to Basho and...Read More

History: Created by award-winning poet Pravat Kumar Padhy in 2022 by fusing a haikuHistory: Previously called Hokku, Haiku was given it's name by Masoka Shiki around 1900. Hokku, meaning starting verse, is the opening stanza of a Japanese orthodox collaborative linked poem, renga, or of its later derivative, renku (haikai no renga), and its establishment as...Read More