Gwawdodyn: Poetic Forms
The gwawdodyn is a Welsh poetic form with a couple variations. However, both versions are comprised of quatrains (4-line stanzas) that have a 9/9/10/9 syllable pattern and matching end rhymes…
The gwawdodyn is a Welsh poetic form with a couple variations. However, both versions are comprised of quatrains (4-line stanzas) that have a 9/9/10/9 syllable pattern and matching end rhymes on lines 1, 2, and 4. The variations are made in that third line:
- One version has an internal rhyme within the third line. So there's a rhyme somewhere within the third line with the end rhyme on the third line.
- The other version has an internal rhyme within the third line that rhymes with an internal rhyme in the fourth line.
In both cases, the rhyme starts somewhere in the middle of the third line and it is a unique rhyme to the end rhyme in lines 1, 2, and 4.
Here's a possible diagram for the first version (with the x's symbolizing syllables):
1-xxxxxxxxa
2-xxxxxxxxa
3-xxxxbxxxxb
4-xxxxxxxxa
Note: The "b" rhyme in the middle of line 3 could slide to the left or right as needed by the poet.
Here's an example I wrote for the first version:
"Cheat," by Robert Lee Brewer
The rumors you've heard are true: I run
to forget my past. What I have won,
I've lost in lasting memories, blasting
through my brain like bullets from a gun.
As you can see, "run," "won," and "gun" rhyme with each other, as do "lasting" and "blasting."
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Here's a possible diagram for the second version:
1-xxxxxxxxa
2-xxxxxxxxa
3-xxxxbxxxxx
4-xxxbxxxxa
Note: In this version, both "b" rhymes can slide around in their respective lines, which affords the poet a little extra freedom.
Here's my example modified for the second version:
"Cheat," by Robert Lee Brewer
The rumors you've heard are true: I run
to forget my past. What I have won,
I've lost in lonley moments, my sorrow
my only friend while others are stunned.
In this version, "run," "won," and "stunned" rhyme (okay, "stunned" is a slant rhyme), while "lonely" and "only" rhyme inside lines 3 and 4.
Please play around with the form this week, because it'll be the focus of the next WD Poetic Form Challenge starting next week.
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Check out other poetic posts here:
- Promoting a Poetry Collection. Part 3 of an 8-part series on getting a poetry collection published.
- Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 230. Every Wednesday, poets receive a new poetry prompt.
- WD Poetic Form Challenge: Cinquain Winner. Find out who won the most recent form challenge.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
