Poetry Contest: Trochaic Octameter

Trochaic Octameter Results

Contest Creator: SilentStalker

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Trochaic Octameter:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trochaic_octameter

The goal of this contest is to complete a poem in this format. As this is a demanding task, some choice in form is given. Those are:


OPTION 1
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The Classic scheme
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The basic, 15-syllable per full line. Can be done in Two, Three, or Four line stanzas, whatever may be easier. Rhyme usually follows a simple scheme.

Meter (Rhyme in parentheses; lower case optional):

("X" = stressed syllable, "_" = unstressed syllable)

X_ X_ X_ X_(cc), X_ X_ X_ X(A)
X_ X_ X_ X_(cc), X_ X_ X_ X(A)
X_ X_ X_ X_(dd), X_ X_ X_ X(B)
X_ X_ X_ X_(dd), X_ X_ X_ X(B)
etc...

Examples:

http://theotherpages.org/poems/tenny02.html
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/rb/toccata.html


OPTION 2
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The Poe scheme
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In Poe's scheme especially, you will normally have the last two syllables in each half-line rhyming. One full stanza is shown below. Note that this scheme does use a few full 16-syllable lines; be sure not to miss these as you compose.

("X" = stressed syllable, "_" = unstressed syllable)

Meter (Rhyme in parentheses; lower case optional):

X_ X_ X_ X_(AA), X_ X_ X_ X_(AA)
X_ X_ X_ X_(aa), X_ X_ X_ X(C)
X_ X_ X_ X_(BB), X_ X_ X_ X_(BB)
X_ X_ X_ X_(bb), X_ X_ X_ X(C)
X_ X_ X_ X_(bb), X_ X_ X_ X(C)
X_ X_ X_ X(C)

Examples:

http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html

http://www.darkpoetry.com/node/work/36370

http://www.darkpoetry.com/node/work/23139

http://www.darkpoetry.com/node/work/87951

http://www.darkpoetry.com/node/work/42732


OPTION 3
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A Variation
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This takes on a very song-like form. Three basic 15-syllable lines, and a few short lines that form a refrain. One full stanza is shown below.

Meter (Rhyme in parentheses; no rhymes optional)

("X" = stressed syllable, "_" = unstressed syllable)

X_ X_ X_ X_, X_ X_ X_ X(A)
X_ X_ X_ X_, X_ X_ X_ X(A)
X_ X_ X_ X_, X_ X_ X_ X(B)
X_ X_ X_ X_(C)
X_ X_ X_ X_(C)
X_ X_ X_ X_(C)
X_ X_ X_ X(B)

Example:

http://sasslantis.ee/lyrics-mercedes_lackey-nightblades



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LENGTH
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When using either the Poe Scheme or the Variation, 4 FULL stanzas as described in their sections will suffice for length. That averages to about 20-22 FULL lines in the Classic format. Whichever you choose, ensure you reach the minimum length.


There is no restriction on subject matter. As long as you can compose a poem following the rigid format, you can enter. This is a Winner Takes All award (Over enough to cover a Quarter Membership of Gold), unless another Sponsor decided to help award a second place poem, so do your best. Try not to force rhymes. Don't always go for EXACT. LANE and MAIM are acceptable, so long as "poetic license" isn't extremely overused. Don't let your pride handicap you; a thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary are your friends when composing complex poems. Make yours stand out from the rest.

http://www.rhymezone.com

http://www.dictionary.com

http://www.thesaurus.com

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