15. Terzanelle
A terzanelle is a modified form of the villanelle.
It uses the interlocked rhyme pattern of a terza rima but in the villanelle’s form of five triplets and a quatrain.
The middle line of the 1st stanza becomes the third line of the next stanza, and so on.
Since the repeated line changes, the rhyme sounds change, which makes it a little easier on the ears during the writing process.
They are strictly written in iambic pentameter, but playing with the foot and stress can be a good way to get better flow – ideally, though, you should keep all lines in whatever meter you pick.
A first a
B first b
A second a
B second b
C first c
B repeat first b
C second c
D first D
C repeat first c
D second d
E first e
D repeat first d
E second e
F first f
E repeat first e
F second f
A repeat first a
F repeat first f
A repeat second a
*******
example:
Lewis Turco
Terzanelle in Thunderweather
This is the moment when shadows gather
under the elms, the cornices and eaves.
This is the center of thunderweather.
The birds are quiet among these white leaves
where wind stutters, starts, then moves steadily
under the elms, the cornices, and eaves--
these are our voices speaking guardedly
about the sky, of the sheets of lightning
where wind stutters, starts, then moves steadily
into our lungs, across our lips, tightening
our throats. Our eyes are speaking in the dark
about the sky, of the sheets of lightening
that illuminate moments. In the stark
shades we inhibit, there are no words for
our throats. Our eyes are speaking in the dark
of things we cannot say, cannot ignore.
This is the moment when shadows gather,
shades we inhibit. There are no words, for
this is the center of thunderweather.
It uses the interlocked rhyme pattern of a terza rima but in the villanelle’s form of five triplets and a quatrain.
The middle line of the 1st stanza becomes the third line of the next stanza, and so on.
Since the repeated line changes, the rhyme sounds change, which makes it a little easier on the ears during the writing process.
They are strictly written in iambic pentameter, but playing with the foot and stress can be a good way to get better flow – ideally, though, you should keep all lines in whatever meter you pick.
A first a
B first b
A second a
B second b
C first c
B repeat first b
C second c
D first D
C repeat first c
D second d
E first e
D repeat first d
E second e
F first f
E repeat first e
F second f
A repeat first a
F repeat first f
A repeat second a
*******
example:
Lewis Turco
Terzanelle in Thunderweather
This is the moment when shadows gather
under the elms, the cornices and eaves.
This is the center of thunderweather.
The birds are quiet among these white leaves
where wind stutters, starts, then moves steadily
under the elms, the cornices, and eaves--
these are our voices speaking guardedly
about the sky, of the sheets of lightning
where wind stutters, starts, then moves steadily
into our lungs, across our lips, tightening
our throats. Our eyes are speaking in the dark
about the sky, of the sheets of lightening
that illuminate moments. In the stark
shades we inhibit, there are no words for
our throats. Our eyes are speaking in the dark
of things we cannot say, cannot ignore.
This is the moment when shadows gather,
shades we inhibit. There are no words, for
this is the center of thunderweather.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
