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Hi everyone!   In my part of the world, we are in the spring season and it is bursting with colors and green.   I hope you will enjoy today’s session, which is actually a poetry form that we have tackled in the past, back in Dec. 2012.  The dVerse archives is a treasure to read!

A Quatern is a sixteen line French form composed of four quatrains. It is similar to the Kyrielle and the Retourne. It has a refrain that is in a different place in each quatrain. The first line of stanza one is the second line of stanza two, third line of stanza three, and fourth line of stanza four.

A quatern has eight syllables (4 metric feet) per line. It does not have to be iambic or follow a set rhyme scheme.  The poet may elect to rhyme at his own discretion, as long as the refrain is in the proper position.  The refrain is the entire line 1, or the poet may wish to alter line 1 with a slight change in the order, pace or focus e.g. changing a word or putting in a comma, for example, to suit one’s particular voice.   It is composed with a rolling refrain that is repeated as:

line 1
line 2
line 3
line 4

line 5
line 6 (line 1)
line 7
line 8

line 9
line 10
line 11 (line 1)
line 12

line 13
line 14
line 15
line 16 (line 1)

Here is my unrhymed Quatern, Autumn’s Last Day

I will wait here by river’s edge –
Wrapped in heated blanket of us
Sunlight flickers low in white mist
Maple trees still, breathless statues

As winter drapes like bridal veil
I will wait here by river’s edge –
Writing poems and letters to you
As you sail, wingspan gliding wide

The days and nights collide like dream –
Icy crystals drops, snow castles –
As I wait here by river’s edge
Writing songs, words flowing like wine

Ferments the anticipation
My hands weave our pictures and words
Into the emerald-spring frame —
Here, I will wait by river’s edge

SOURCES:   Here and here

Are you ready to write and share your QUATERN, following the format?

To join us for Thursday’s Poetry Form, here’s how to join:
  • Write a Quatern in your blog.
  • Enter a link directly to your  poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below and remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy.
  • There you will find links to other poets, and more will join during the next 48 hours so check back to read other entries.
  • Read and comment on other poet’s work, we all go here to have our poems read
  • Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.
  • Comment and participate in our discussion below, if you like.
  • Have fun.
See you at the poetry trail. ~Grace~