It's a British/Anglo Saxon type of Haiku. See this interesting post from Billy Mills in the Guardian. Writing in form is a challenge but I think every poet should try it.
Anglow Saxon/Viking forms are big into syllable counting. There are some variations but why not try the englyn cyrch. It's four seven-syllable lines of which lines one, two and four rhyme and the end of line three has an internal rhyme in line four:
_ _ _ _ _ _ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ b
_ _ _ b _ _ a
4 comments:
God EW, you had me worried there. I was racking my mouse brain for the englyn metre and rhyme (rhyme?) in Anglo-Saxon to no avail.
So relieved to find out that it's a Welsh form that I might try it now. Phew.
Frost has rimed my house tonight
The full moon shines it ice white
I can see the dying year
This night too clear, too bone white.
Sorry, that should be "bone bright". Obviously too cold here to think.
And should englynions have kennings? Now there's a thought.
WOW! I am so going to try this simply because the word Viking was featured in your post and because it would be a challenge. :)
Look out for possible failed attempts on my blog!
We should be writing more Viking poetry with our mixed heritage. Have you read Stephen Fry's book The Ode Less Travelled? He's loads of examples, all to do with syllable counting and alliteration.
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