Day 2 - Couplet Poem for #NationalPoetryMonth “30 Poems in 30 Days”

Well, Poetry Month has gotten off to a great start. I’m so glad! I know I can sound picky about following the guidelines for each poetry form but I surprised myself when I was rereading my own samples for Day 1 and realized I didn’t even follow the correct syllable count myself. Sheesh!! Need to do better. Sorry about that.

Let’s move on to another basic poetry form – every poet should know how to write a couplet. It is the basis of other poems and it’s only TWO lines of poetry. How easy is that? And a perfect choice for DAY TWO, right?

Although I’ve seen some that are totally random, the dictionary definition of a “couplet” suggests that they usually consist of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter (syllable count). Although in the spirit of “full disclosure,” they do not need to have the same meter. Gasp! In fact, if you opt for what is called an “unrhymed couplet” they don’t even need ending rhyming words. So, there is a little wiggle room when it comes to couplets.

Try expressing your complete thought in two mid-sized poetic lines. The last words traditionally rhyme. And just for fun, TRY to keep both lines to the same syllable count (meter, basically).

It can be spiritual or silly or romantic or whatever suits your fancy – couplets are great to write for children or with children.

And you can always string a bunch of couplets together to create a longer poem, but for today – just try creating one or more individual 2-line couplets, unless you are bound and determined to make a longer poem.

Just a few more explanations when it comes to couplets: when a couplet can stand alone from the rest of the poem, it is considered independent, and it is called a “closed couplet.” Conversely, a couplet that cannot stand alone without the rest of the poem is an “open couplet.”

Just in case you were wondering, there actually are quite a variety of couplets – if you feel so inclined to research them – here are a few: Heroic Couplet, Unrhymed Couplet, Blank Verse Couplet, Short Couplet, Split Couplet, Qasida, Alexandrine Couplet, Shakespearean Couplet, and Chinese Couplet. No doubt there are more, but that’s a start.

And to simplify things – here is a handy dandy free online syllable counter: Cheers!!

OK, for examples here are a couple of couplets (hee hee) that I wrote just a few minutes ago. They are pretty lame, probably demonstrating that I’m kind of tired right now. LOL. But you get the idea.

But I did check them on that handy dandy syllable counter. It is actually really quite helpful, especially when you are too tired to count them yourself.

I have so many things “on my plate,”

Please forgive me if I’m running late.

            © 2021 Stephanie Abney

Each night, I plan to go to bed by ten,

Oops, forgot, stayed up past midnight again.

           © 2021 Stephanie Abney

 And here is one from years ago: 

Writing this little assignment,

Puts my nose out of alignment. 

           © 2011 Stephanie Abney

PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they post them. Thanks so much!

Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.