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Explore the Craft of Writing Greek Verse Echo Verse is a poetic devise or writing technique rather than a verse form. Repetition is key, a word or two at the end of a line is repeated as the next line like an echo. The technique dates back to Ancient Greece. It also was popular during the Middle Ages, termed Chained Verse and sung by the troubadours of Provence France. Modern day Echo Verse often changes the echoed word in some clever, off handed or cynical manner. The echo can be the same word or syllable or a pun. The stanza, meter, rhyme are all at the discretion of the poet. The only requirement is the repetition of the end word or syllables of the previous line. Let's Take It With Ease by Judi Van Gorder A Gentle Echo On Woman by Jonathan Swift Shepherd. What most moves women when we them address? Echo. A dress. Shepherd. Say, what can keep her chaste whom I adore? Echo. A door. Shepherd. If music softens rocks, love tunes my lyre. Echo. Liar. Shepherd. Then teach me, Echo, how shall I come by her? Echo. Buy her. When bought, no question I shall be her dear? Echo. Her deer. Shepherd. But deer have horns: how must I keep her under? Echo. Keep her under. Shepherd. But what can glad me when she's laid on bier? Echo. Beer.Shepherd. What must I do when women will be kind? Echo. Be kind. Shepherd. What must I do when women will be cross? Echo. Be cross. Shepherd. Lord, what is she that can so turn and wind? Echo. Wind. Shepherd. If she be wind, what stills her when she blows? Echo. Blows. Shepherd. But if she bang again, still should I bang her? Echo. Bang her. Shepherd. Is there no way to moderate her anger? Echo. Hang her. Shepherd. Thanks, gentle Echo! right thy answers tell What woman is and how to guard her well. Echo. Guard her well.