A Mini-Challenge for Sunday ~ Envelopes

In my search for an interesting form to share this weekend, I have come across variations of an Envelope Stanza.

Image source: Etsy

#1

The Envelope Quatrain is a very interesting form and was probably created by Francesco Petrarch, when he moved from the Sicilian court. As well as being the building block of the Italian octave, the Spanish and French octave also use it. However, it is a poetry form in its own right, and the meter, which if we look at the French or Spanish roots, consists of eight syllables, with English purists insisting on Iambic Tetrameter. This gives a suggested pattern of:
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x x x b
x x x x x x x b
x x x x x x x a
(Where x is a single syllable)

Example HERE

Photo credit: gino dedominici

#2

The Envelope Quintet is a natural progression of a four line poem to 5 lines. There are several ways this can be achieved and the Sicilian Quintain is an excellent one, using the rhyme scheme: a, b, a, b, a

There are two other ways: one of them is simply by turning the middle couplet into a triplet, giving a rhyming scheme of: a, b, b, b, a.

As an alternative there can be one of: a, b, c, b, a.

If one wants to extend this stanza form into a lengthier poem,        
the c/ e/ g rhyme can also be used to link subsequent stanzas by setting the Envelope rhyme for the next stanza as below:

a, b, c, b, a
c, d, e, d, c
e, f, a, f, e

You'll notice how the last stanza (here shown as stanza 3, but any number of stanzas is possible) may be linked back to the original envelope, by using the a rhyme again. It is also possible to retain the c line throughout the poem as a repeat rhyme, or a repeat line (refrain).

There is no set meter, but Iambic Pentameter, or a ten syllable line is suggested.

Example HERE

Image source: tumblr

#3

The Envelope Couplet is a far stricter variation. Here the first and last line use the same refrain which starts and completes the stanzas of that poem. The second and fifth line of each stanza rhyme with the refrain lines. This leaves only the centre couplet to change its rhyme:

A, a, b, b, a, A (where A is the refrain)

The pattern for a three stanza work would be:
A, a, b, b, a, A
A, a, c, c, a, A
A, a, d, d, a, A

The meter is suggested as Iambic Tetrameter, or an eight syllable line but may also be written in the ten syllable line if preferred.

Example HERE

Information sourced on thepoetsgarret.com

Image source: fredandflorenceletters.com

#4


The Open Letter: for those who hate rhyme and whose stomachs turn at the mere mention of rules and regulations, I invite you to write in free verse. The only stipulation is that your piece must be in letter form, complete with address, greeting and salutation, using four or five line stanzas.

I believe we can have a lot of fun getting to grips with these various forms of the Envelope Stanza.  Because rhyme and meter take extra time to write, the Sunday Mini-Challenge will be posted at noon on Saturday.  Only new work is wanted for this prompt. Management reserves the right to remove the links of poems which are older than Saturday, 21 April or which have no connection to the theme or form suggested here.