Let's All Write a Triolet

This week, we're going to write a shorter form.  In my opinion it's an easier form as well.  First of all, it's another one of those forms which makes the poet look good.  Second, it's short.  Look, I know a lot of writers will talk about agonizing over short pieces, spending days over a comma placement, and all that jazz.  Spending ten years on one haiku.  I know that that can happen and, believe me, I understand the importance of scrupulous editing, attention to form and flow, and putting very hard work and planning into your writing.

This just happens, in my opinion, to be an easy form to work with.  This is actually a very good thing, especially during dry spells for writers.  I am in total agreement with Ray Bradbury who wrote,

"You must write every single day of your life... You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads... may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world." 

I strive to live like that.  I too strive to write every day in some capacity.  Some days you sit down to write a long piece you've been working on and it's like the glue has coagulated around the spout.  Slamming down a few triolets or haiku or something usually gets the juice flowing again.

A triolet (pronouced "tree-oh-lay") is a form in which the opening line recurs thrice within the poem. The first line is also the fourth and the seventh line.  The second line is the same as the eighth line.  It is an eight line poem.  As usual, don't let the diagram scare you as it will make a lot more sense when you read my example at the end of this post.  In this diagram, A and B are the other lines, A1 marks the repeating of the first line and B2 will mark the repeating of the second line.  So it goes like this:

A1
B2
A
A1
A
B
A1
B2

Got it?  As usual, I will boldly write my own modest example below and all of you are then free to write your own triolets.  Work with it; own the form for yourself.  You can post yours here or on Facebook or not at all and keep it to yourself or roll it up and tie it to the leg of a pigeon.  A good way to start one of these is simply to write two lines about something going on around you.  Maybe your cat is snoring at your feet or thunderclouds are on the horizon or your olive tree is blossoming.  Just throw something out there and I think you'll find the rhyme structure will compose the poem around your first two thoughts for you.  As usual, have fun.


Saturday Afternoon Triolet
by Paul Mathers

We move the furniture to paint the walls
Then stall on account of the humidity.
We found the light switch was poorly installed.
We move the furniture to paint the walls.
The tv stand is heavy, the dust appalls.
Living room rearranging with timidity.
We move the furniture to paint the walls
Then stall on account of the humidity.