VI. Marathi Region: The Ovi

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Indian Verse
Regional Verse

18. Ovi is commonly known as 12th century folk-songs of the Maranthi Region of India which expressed love, social irony and heroic events.

Tukaram, a 17th Century Maranthi Poet wrote:

Because I could not lie
I named my dog "God".
Startled at first,
Soon he was smiling
Then dancing!
Now he won't even bite.
Do you suppose this might work
On people, too?

The elements of the Ovi are:

1. stanzaic, written in any number of 4 line stanzas.
2. syllabic, 8-8-8-(less than 8 ) syllables
3. rhymed, with L1, L2, L3 mono-rhymed L4 unrhymed. aaax, x being unrhymed
   
   Roly Poly by Judi Van Gorder
   
   The big toothed tot with golden hair
   picked up a bug on Sister's dare,
   it rolled into a ball right there
   and won her springtime heart.

Regional Verse Forms