Day 2 2025
Sweet!! We
are off to a great start!! If you couldn’t join us yesterday, how about today?
There are a couple of reasons I like
to introduce how to write a couplet
(see what I did there??? HaHa) early on in poetry month, particularly on Day 2.
Every poet should know how to write a couplet. It can be the basis of several other poems, or it can stand alone as one complete thought (and poem). Plus, it’s only TWO lines of poetry. Hence, Day 2. Really, it’s so easy.
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), and with rhyming end words.
It can be
spiritual, silly, 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's 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
example, here are a couple
of couplets (hee hee) that I have written:
Poetry month makes me happy as can
be.
The creations made are a delight to
see.
© 2025 Stephanie Abney
I have so many things “on my plate,”
Please forgive me if I’m running
late.
© 2021 Stephanie Abney
And a couple more couplets ~
I know the Lord is mindful of me,
And it makes me happy as can be.
© 2011 by
Stephanie Abney
I am such a work in progress,
Some days I do more, others less
© 2022 Stephanie Abney
AND, here is a cute one from a Poetry Month participant (used with
permission).
My puppy chews on everything
But mostly tugs at my heartstrings.
© 2017
Andilyn Jenkins
Okay – your
turn!! You are welcome to share your poems in the comments to this blog post. I
hope you will share them online in our FB poetry group. Most people enjoy
sharing them on their own FB or IG accounts. I also hope you are keeping them
in a journal or a file on your computer. Enjoy!!
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 create them and especially once
they post them. Thanks so much!
*** Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog
or elsewhere on social media ~ 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 EACH DAY’S SPECIFIC 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
No comments:
Post a Comment