Today, let’s try writing triolets. A triolet is an eight-line poem. All the lines are in iambic tetramenter (for a total of eight syllables per line), and the first, fourth, and seventh lines are identical, as are the second and final lines. This means that the poem begins and ends with the same couplet. Beyond this, there is a tight rhyme scheme (helped along by the repetition of lines) — ABaAabAB.
I really found working with this form difficult; from what I’ve read so far, the same goes for a lot of other participants. So much seems to hang on the choice of words in the first couplet, which sets most of the rhyming scheme for the rest of the poem.
However, after a tongue-in-cheek first attempt in the interests of letting off steam; lo and behold, I managed a second triolet; both below.
To write in rhyme is hard enough, my mind is straining at the seams; then add this meter form, it’s tough! To write in rhyme is hard enough when inspiration’s muse plays rough; poetic freedom just a dream. To write in rhyme is hard enough; my mind is straining at the seams.
And:
When times are dark, all colours blurred and common sense is yet a dream: in silence still, no voice is heard; when times are dark, all colours blurred. Waiting in mystery for a word; Is wishing hope and light extreme? When times are dark, all colours blurred and common sense is yet a dream.