Double Ballad Stanza

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
English Verse

Double Ballad Stanza is a verse form which basically doubles the ballad stanza. However, unlike the ballad it need not tell a story. It can simply be an observation.

The elements of the Double Ballad Stanza are:

1. An octastich made up of 2 quatrains.
2. metric, accentual, (The ballad utilizes an accentual line and the stress is what counts not the meter, alternating 4 stress, 3 stress.)
3. rhymed, rhyme scheme of xa(b-b) axcxc (x being unrhymed) with an internal rhyme in the 3rd and expletive line.

   Tell All the Truth but Tell it Slant by Emily Dickinson 1872
   
   Tell all the Truth but tell it slant---
   Success in Circuit lies
   Too bright for our infirm Delight
   The Truth's superb surprise
   As Lightning to the Children eased
   With explanation kind
   The Truth must dazzle gradually
   Or every man be blind---