I don’t see how it feels “clunky.” It’s just kind of hard to hear the A rhymes because they’re so far apart. I mean, if Tennyson uses it I assume that I can’t hear it because my ear is shit, not because Tennyson’s is.
The A rhymes are too far apart and the B rhymes feel somewhat silly being so close together. And as much as I like Tennyson, I'm not above criticizing his stuff. In Memorium AHH sucks.
It creates tension and dramatic irony, it's like a frame narrative, the B lines constitute a little self-contained schema and the A lines are the elevated commentary enclosing them. B is the artificial dream-world, A is the reality hanging over it. When the A rhyme comes in it's a bittersweet wake-up call, and the distance from its partner emphasizes the "dying fall" aspect. The only poem I know by Tennyson is the Lady of Shalott but the verse structure of that one works much the same way, it seems to be very much his "thing". You are entitled to dislike it but it makes perfect sense.
>Why does any poet use this or any variants of this?
ABAB can get a bit tick-tock. ABBA is funkier and less monotonous, because the rhyme distances vary.
>I've never read a poem where it didn't feel incredibly clunky
The middle couplet can sound a bit obvious to the modern ear, but there are lots of pieces that carry it off.
THE FALL OF ROME
The piers are pummelled by the waves;
In a lonely field the rain
Lashes an abandoned train;
Outlaws fill the mountain caves.
Fantastic grow the evening gowns;
Agents of the Fisc pursue
Absconding tax-defaulters through
The sewers of provincial towns.
Private rites of magic send
The temple prostitutes to sleep;
All the literati keep
An imaginary friend.
Cerebrotonic Cato may
Extol the Ancient Disciplines,
But the muscle-bound Marines
Mutiny for food and pay.
Caesar's double-bed is warm
As an unimportant clerk
Writes I DO NOT LIKE MY WORK
On a pink official form.
Unendowed with wealth or pity,
Little birds with scarlet legs,
Sitting on their speckled eggs,
Eye each flu-infected city.
Altogether elsewhere, vast
Herds of reindeer move across
Miles and miles of golden moss,
Silently and very fast.
It can be used well as other anons have shared, but I find it nice to reinforce an effect of suprise, especially when substituted into a different scheme.
Writing poetry is a pain in the ass regardless of what system you use. I respect anyone who can pull it off regardless.
Haikus don't count though, those are silly.
This painting makes me feel something deep. It makes me want to pack up right now and drive to west virginia. I want a print of this. Who is the artist?
I don’t see how it feels “clunky.” It’s just kind of hard to hear the A rhymes because they’re so far apart. I mean, if Tennyson uses it I assume that I can’t hear it because my ear is shit, not because Tennyson’s is.
The A rhymes are too far apart and the B rhymes feel somewhat silly being so close together. And as much as I like Tennyson, I'm not above criticizing his stuff. In Memorium AHH sucks.
It creates tension and dramatic irony, it's like a frame narrative, the B lines constitute a little self-contained schema and the A lines are the elevated commentary enclosing them. B is the artificial dream-world, A is the reality hanging over it. When the A rhyme comes in it's a bittersweet wake-up call, and the distance from its partner emphasizes the "dying fall" aspect. The only poem I know by Tennyson is the Lady of Shalott but the verse structure of that one works much the same way, it seems to be very much his "thing". You are entitled to dislike it but it makes perfect sense.
You can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life, ooh
See that girl, watch that scene
Dig in the Dancing Queen
Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
chuckled
>Why does any poet use this or any variants of this?
ABAB can get a bit tick-tock. ABBA is funkier and less monotonous, because the rhyme distances vary.
>I've never read a poem where it didn't feel incredibly clunky
The middle couplet can sound a bit obvious to the modern ear, but there are lots of pieces that carry it off.
THE FALL OF ROME
The piers are pummelled by the waves;
In a lonely field the rain
Lashes an abandoned train;
Outlaws fill the mountain caves.
Fantastic grow the evening gowns;
Agents of the Fisc pursue
Absconding tax-defaulters through
The sewers of provincial towns.
Private rites of magic send
The temple prostitutes to sleep;
All the literati keep
An imaginary friend.
Cerebrotonic Cato may
Extol the Ancient Disciplines,
But the muscle-bound Marines
Mutiny for food and pay.
Caesar's double-bed is warm
As an unimportant clerk
Writes I DO NOT LIKE MY WORK
On a pink official form.
Unendowed with wealth or pity,
Little birds with scarlet legs,
Sitting on their speckled eggs,
Eye each flu-infected city.
Altogether elsewhere, vast
Herds of reindeer move across
Miles and miles of golden moss,
Silently and very fast.
— W. H. Auden
Auden is a homosexual and his work should be burned
I always thought this poem was describing the famous painting; drove me crazy when I realized it doesn't. Where does he get this shit?
It can be used well as other anons have shared, but I find it nice to reinforce an effect of suprise, especially when substituted into a different scheme.
Writing poetry is a pain in the ass regardless of what system you use. I respect anyone who can pull it off regardless.
Haikus don't count though, those are silly.
>Why does any poet use this or any variants of this?
they're having the time of their life
It works best in german. George, Trakl, etc.
This painting makes me feel something deep. It makes me want to pack up right now and drive to west virginia. I want a print of this. Who is the artist?
for me it's Angeleyes
Who painted that? Where are my bison?
Looks like Frederic Church, but I don't remember this one.
Waterloo
I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo
Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo
Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
>variants of this
lolwut?
Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came uses an ABBAAB rhyme scheme, which is essentially a doubled up ABBA
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