Chained Sonnet Notes

More of an effect than a set sonnet form the chained sonnet can be used with any sonnet variant the poet chooses. Each line begins with the last word of the preceding line. For a cyclic chained sonnet the last word of the last line should be the first word of the first line. Structure: …

Curtal Sonnet Notes

Originally created by Gerard Manly Hopkins using his devised meter Sprung Rhythm sonnet purists would argue the Curtal Sonnet is not a true sonnet, nevertheless I shall include it in my notes as a valid sonnet form. The Curtal is a shortened, or curtailed sonnet, specifically referring to a sonnet composed of a sestet and …

Countess Grief Sonnet Notes

Created by Jose Rizal M. ReyesMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterStructure: 3 quatrains and a coupletRhyme Scheme: abba cddc eefg gf Example: Necrosis by Jez Farmer The shimmery haze like buckets of mistReflect the heat against the dying grassAnd old man time must surely breathe his lastThere is no way out; no mystery twistUnheard warnings left all …

Clare’s Sonnet Notes

Structure: Quatorzain of coupletsMeter: AnySchema: aabbccddeeffgg Example: Line by Line by Jez Farmer The soft touch of her lover’s lipsOn her skin his tongue slowly skipsHis hunger, her passion as oneDefining love’s erotic funWithout words, with a metered beatTheir verse inscribed in sexual feetA dance, a song, a poem foundShe drags her nails in the …

Cross Sonnet Notes

Created by Victoria Sutton. The first four syllable of line #1, becomes the last four syllables of Line #4 in each of the quatrains. Cross Sonnet 1 Structure: 3 quatrains and a coupletMeter: Octosyllabic or tetrameterSchema: aabb ccdd eeff gg Example Silent Words by Jez Farmer Her eyes that speak of love’s desireEcho the music …

Divino Sonetto Notes

Created by Divena Collins, the Divino Sonetto has two variants. Sonetto 1 Structure: Octet and sestetMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: aabbcddc eefeff Example: A Closed Door by Jez Farmer The silent tears that nobody saw cryAs deep within a soul just wished to dieUnspoken the words that voiced so much painOf a heart broken again and …

Cornish Sonnet Notes

Historically, travellers were influencing the courts of Europe and introducing sonnet poetry to England, France, and Spain. At the same time in the south west of England traders were also introducing hybrid poetry influenced by Arab traders who plied their trade along the Mediterranean and the shores of Cornwall resulting in a fusion of the …

Chivalric Sonnet Notes

Structure: 3 quatrains and a coupletMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: xaxa xbxb xcxc dd Example: Down by the Stream by Jez Farmer Each night I walk past the tree-lined stream,And see the seasons flowing quickly by,The silver shards that moonlight leaves behind,Entwined with rusty gold of autumn's sigh.I sit and stare as if I'm lost in …

Constellation Sonnet Notes

Created by: Terry ClitheroeStructure: Two quintains and a quatrainMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: ababa ababa cdcd Example: Awake at Last by Terry Clitheroe Wouldst take thee in my arms for a whileEternity would be much too short a time.Thou know'st my heart is so easy to beguileTo leave too soon would be a grievous crimeI happily …

Capped Sonnet Notes

Structure: QuatorzainMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: xxxxxxxxxxxxaa Example Riding the Waves by Jez Farmer Cruelly torn from love’s tantalizing kissThe rage of passion burns beneath my skinIt feeds on pleasure gasping from your lipsAs my tongue flickers softly on your fleshI watch you writhing possessed by desireHow slow the touch comes when it’s all you needA …

Choi’s Sonnet Notes

Structure: 3 quatrains and a coupletMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: abab bbcc cdcd dd Example: Heat of the Moment by Jez Farmer I need to take you in my arms tonight,To hold you close and taste your lips on mine,And feel your sighs entwine with my delight,As passion wraps us up in honeyed wine.In this embrace …

Canadian Sonnet (Italian) Notes

Structure: 2 quatrains and a sestetMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: abba cddc effegg Example: Phantasm by Jez Farmer The garden has lost its beautiful roseAnd so the sky has lost its brightest starAs this emptiness echoes near and farMy life without you; fear the worst of foesEchoes that speak only in evil dreamsTo open the weary …

Canadian Sonnet (English) Notes

Structure: 2 quatrains and 2 tripletsMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: abba bccb efg efg Example: Champagne Flute by Jez Farmer Two bubbles within the glass flute appearBoth born of wine to rise in time as oneFor destiny will never be outdoneAs streams of condensation swiftly clearIn icy cold sweetness we celebrateA joining the mystic eyes could …

Byronic Sonnet Notes

Structure: Octet and sestetMeter: Decasyllabic or pentameterSchema: abbaacca dedede Example: Sighing Kiss by Jez Farmer In love’s kiss the spirit is shared with loveAnd two hearts begin to beat as oneEntwined in union beneath the sunAs two surrender to the stars aboveHer hand in mine so it fits like a gloveWhile her eyes deny me …

Busto Sonetto 2 Notes

Meter: No meter requirementStructure: Quintain, quatrain and quintainRhyme Scheme: abcba deed fghgf Example: Divine Pleasures by Jez Farmer The chime that travels in to yesterdayAn echo of youth now so distantWhen the heat of summer meant endless funResponsibility non-existentWhen all we had to do was run and playThe bells of sweet coolness would call outAs …

Busta Sonetto 3 Notes

Structure: Quatrain and 2 quintainsMeter: No meter requirementSchema: abba cdedc fghgf Example: Desire Aches by Jez Farmer Love has taken my heart to be with youFrom a distance to your arms’ close embraceAs in the moon’s shadow I kiss your faceRefuelling desire to feel fresh and newForgetting how long we have been apartThe long nights …

Busta Sonetto 1 Notes

Meter: No meter requirementStructure: 2 quintains and a quatrainRhyme Scheme: abcba defed ghhg Example: Danish Prince by Jez Farmer A soliloquy questions life or deathOne man’s desperate plea seeking choiceAs he utters ‘to be or not to be’The strain echoing in his troubled voiceAnd again, as he draws into his breathHis crying eyes blinded by …

Bush Ballad Meter Sonnet Notes

Created by: Lawrence Eberhart.Meter: Lines1 through 12 alternate 15 and 11 syllable. Lines 13 and 14 each have 15 syllablesStructure: Octet and sestetRhyme Scheme: ababcdcd efefgg Example: The Magic by Jez Farmer Only lovers share the true secrets of love that touch the soulThe mystery hidden betwixt stars and moonAnd none may know why the …

Burns’ Sonnet Notes

Created by Robert BurnsMeter: No meter specifiedStructure: Three quatrains and a coupletRhyme Scheme: abab cddc efef gg Example: A Sonnet upon Sonnets by Robert Burns Fourteen, a sonneteer thy praises sing;What magic myst’ries in that number lie!Your hen hath fourteen eggs beneath her wingsThat fourteen chickens to the roost may fly.Fourteen full pounds the jockey’s …

Brisbane Sonnet Notes

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameterStructure: 2 sestets and a coupletRhyme Scheme: abcabc defdef gg Example: The Dance by Jez Farmer And should we dance the tango once again?For now the moon is falling from the sky,While sultry music fades into silence,And time is rushing on to dreaded whenWe’ll share a kiss before we say goodbyeAnd clocks …

Bowlesian Sonnet Notes

Created by: William Lisle BowlesMeter: Iambic pentameter or decasyllabicStructure: Three quatrains and a coupletRhyme Scheme: abba cddc effe gg Example: On hearing the Bells at Sea by William Lisle Bowles How sweet the tuneful bells' responsive peal!As when at opening dawn the fragrant breezeTouches the trembling sense of pale disease,So piercing to my heart their …

Blank Verse Sonnet Notes

Blank Verse Sonnet NotesMeter: Decasyllabic or PentameterStructure: QuatorzainRhyme Scheme: None specified Example: Sleepless Night by Jez Farmer The night is waiting in silver moonlight,For lips to meet and share a lover's kiss,Between the hushened pleas and wanting sighs,As parting clouds reveal the moon is full,The night of sleepless dreaming has begun.The quiet stillness found in …

Beginning of the Line Rhymed Sonnet

Structure: Octet and sestet. First words in the line rhyme, not the end rhyme word Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Rhyme Scheme: aabbccdd eeffgg

Bardic Sonnet Notes

Bardic Sonnet Notes Created by: William Kenneth Keller Structure: 3 quatrains and a couplet

Arabian Onegin Sonnet Notes

Arabian Onegin Sonnet Notes Created by Jose Rizal M. Reyes Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 2 quatrains and 2 triplets

American Libre Sonnet Notes

American Libre Sonnet Created by Jose Rizal M. Reyes Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 3 quatrains and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abab bbcc cdcd ee

Arabian Sonnet Notes

Arabian Sonnet Created by: Jose Rizal M. Reyes Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 2 quatrains and two triplets Rhyme Scheme: aaaa bbbb ccc ddd

Australian Sonnet Notes

Australian Sonnet Notes Meter: Consistent meter Structure: Three quatrains and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abba cddc effe gg

Amanda’s Dark Sonnet

Amanda’s Dark Sonnet Meter: Decasyllabic or Iambic pentameter Structure: Two septets with the first word of each septet being alliterative Rhyme Scheme: Aabbcca Abbccdd

Alternating Sonnet 2

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: Triplet, quatrain, triplet and quatrain Rhyme Scheme: aab cddc ebe cddc

Malaysian Sonnet

This sonnet was created by the Philippine poet Jose Rizal M. Reyes. It uses an English structure of 3 quatrains and a couplet with a Spanish rhyme scheme. This gives the following rhyme meter aaba bbcb ccdc dd Example: Flying High by Jez Farmer My love, we're flying high above the night and through unguarded …

Cornish Sonnet 3

Cornish Sonnet 3 Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 2 sestets and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: Abacbc dedfeF AF

Cornish Sonnet 2

Cornish Sonnet 2 Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 2 sestets and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abacbC dedfeF CF

Cornish Sonnet 1

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameterStructure: 2 sestets and a coupletRhyme Scheme: Abacbc Dedfef AD Example: Lost Chances by Jez Farmer While walking rough roads my feet sore and bare, And dreams were far beyond my outstretched hands, Within the realms where no angels will dare, You turned away each time I reached for you, You wanted …

Half-measured Sonnet

Half-measured Sonnet Meter: 6 syllables or trimeter Structure: Three Quatrains and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abab cded fgfg ce

Raven’s Rovi Sonnet

This sonnet was inspired by Ivor Hogg’s Ivorian sonnet form. As I like balance I have divided the sonnet into two septets the first being formed of a triplet and a quatrain, the second a quintain and a couplet.

Countess Grief Sonnet 1

Countess Grief Sonnet 1 Created by Jose Rizal M. Reyes Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 3 quatrains and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abba cddc eefg gf

Cornish Sonnet 4

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 2 sestets and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abacbC Dedfef CD

Ivorian Sonnet

Created by the poet and dear friend, the late Ivor Hogg, this perhaps my favourite of the many sonnet forms.

Divino Sonetto

Poetic Notes - Divino Sonetto

Shelley’s Sonnet

Percy Bysshe Shelly seemed to have a fondness for interlocking stanzas, possibly a nod to French literature. In his sonnet, he follows the continental octave and sestet format, but he also links the first four lines into the second half of the octave, again the second half of the octave links into the first half …

Constellation Sonnet

Created by: Terry Clitheroe Meter: Decasyllabic or Pentameter Structure: Two quintains and a quatrain Rhyme Scheme: ababa ababa cdcd Example: Metaphysical Dreams by Jez Farmer A stairway that leads away from this place Where two lovers can dance among the stars Their desires meet as one in time and space As destiny unites Venus and …

Clare’s Sonnet

Created by: John Clare Meter: Any Structure: Quatorzain of couplets Rhyme Scheme: aabbccddeeffgg Example: Line by Line by Jez Farmer The soft touch of her lover’s lips On her skin his tongue slowly skips His hunger, her passion as one Defining love’s erotic fun Without words, with a metered beat Their verse inscribed in sexual …

Choi’s Sonnet

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 3 quatrains and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: abab bbcc cdcd dd Example: Heat of the Moment by Jez Farmer I need to take you in my arms tonight, To hold you close and taste your lips on mine, And feel your sighs entwine with my delight, As passion wraps us …

Chivalric Sonnet

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 3 quatrains and a couplet Rhyme Scheme: xaxa xbxb xcxc dd Example: Down by the Stream by Jez farmer Each night I walk past the tree-lined stream, And see the seasons flowing quickly by, The silver shards that moonlight leaves behind, Entwined with rusty gold of autumn's sigh. I sit …

Beymorlin Sonnet

Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: Octet and sestet Rhyme Scheme: abbacddc efefgg Example: Last Kiss by Jez Farmer And before I die I recall the love I’m lost in faded dreams of youthful thought Like post-it notes that always came to nought Could be loves that only poets write of A kiss of good-bye when …

Cerispring Sonnet

Meter: Alternating tetrameter and trimeter Structure: 2 triplets. a couplet and 2 triplets Rhyme Scheme: aba bcb dd cec efe Example: Falling Leaves by Jez Farmer In golden flurries falling leaves Bid farewell summer sun And Mother Earth wears autumn sleeves. The field are bare, the harvest done, And songs surround the fire The darker …

Betwixt Sonnet

Created by: Jose Rizal M. Reyes Structure: 3 quatrains and a couplet Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Rhyme Scheme: abba cbbc dbbd bb Example: Immortal Words by Jez Farmer The first time I said the words ‘I love you’ Forever seemed a vast expanse of time Immortal like words captured in a rhyme But it’s no …

Caudated Malayan Sonnet

Created by: Jose Rizal M. Reyes Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Structure: 5 quatrains Rhyme Scheme: aaba bbcb ccdc ddde eeff Example: Surfing by Jez Farmer Sweet love is like the ocean’s surging tide, And, alas, not always the smoothest ride, But where the land shall meet the turbid sea Is where I lay my heart …

Beginning of the Line Rhymed Sonnet

Structure: Octet and sestet. First words in the line rhyme, not the end rhyme word Meter: Decasyllabic or pentameter Rhyme Scheme: aabbccdd eeffgg Example: A Path of Virtue by Jez Farmer Above among the stars I see my dream Of love, the virtuous path to your kiss Desire the lamp that leads the way ahead …