Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry Invented-verse-forms
The Sparrowlet is an invented stanzaic form created by Kathrine Sparrow that she calls a variation of the Swap Quatrain. The defining feature is the inversion of the 2 hemistichs of L1 in L6 of each stanza.
The elements of the Sparrowet are:
stanzaic, written in any number of sixains.
syllabic, lines of 8 syllables each. (Often written in iambic tetrameter.)
L1 and L6 of each stanza is written in 2 hemistichs.
rhymed, rhyme scheme BbabaA.
The 2 halves of L1 are inverted and repeated as a refrain in L6.
RRRA, RRRB
xxxxxxxb
xxxxxxxa
xxxxxxxb
xxxxxxxa
RRRB, RRRA Let's Talk
You think you're right, I think you're wrong!
This may end up a country song
I don't disagree out of spite
Both have opinions that are strong
Discussion can turn on a light
I think you're wrong, You think you're right
~~Judi Van Gorder