Clogyrnach Variation: A Fun Way to Challenge Writing Skills

CLOGYRNACH VARIATION

In my last post I shared a clogyrnach poem, a Welsh form of poetry. Today I am bringing you a clogyrnach variation poem. Both the original and the variation can be one or more stanzas. For the original, each stanza has 6 lines. Here is the pattern in case you didn’t see my previous post:

Lines 1 and 2: 8 syllables with an “a” rhyme
Lines 3 and 4: 5 syllables with a “b” rhyme
Line 5: 3 syllables with a “b” rhyme
Line 6: 3 syllables with an “a” rhyme

It was a challenge, but I think the variation was more of a challenge. For the variation, there are only 5 lines. Essentially the 5th and 6th lines are combined. The pattern is: aabba with a “b” rhyme in the middle of the 5th line. It was a struggle to figure out how to make that “b” rhyme fit in the last line.

I worked on it off and on trying various phrases, looking for rhyming words. As before, my rural location near the Blue Ridge Foothills gave me an idea. Our house is practically surrounded by woods, and in the spring, it looks as if the forest will take over our property.

A VARIATION POEM

I won’t take you through all the different words and thoughts I used, because the theme was pretty much the same. Instead, I will share the last two versions, which are similar. After many tries over a couple of days, this is what I settled with last night:

Forest spreads as weeds, vines and trees
Cover our field like murky seas
Never mind the gloom
Springtime flowers bloom
In my room, if you please

As I reviewed it today, I wasn’t satisfied. The forest growth doesn’t really cover a field, but it does creep onto our property. And since the growth is varying shades of green, it doesn’t really look like murky seas, but it does seem to overflow onto our land like a flood. So, after more thought here is my revised clogyrnach variation poem:

Forest spreads as weeds, vines and trees
Cover the ground like flooding seas
But not all is gloom
Springtime flowers bloom
In my room, if you please

A CHALLENGE

These types of poems are fun even if they are challenging. I would like to challenge you to write a clogyrnach poem, whether the original style or the variation. Take some time to look at photos or take a walk outside for inspiration. Then, just try it! If you do write one, please share it in the comments section.

I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday

• 
• 
• 
•