Wayra

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Spanish Verse

The Wayra (Quechua - wind ) is a popular verse form of Peru and Bolivia. It appears it originated in an indigenous Quechua language but has found its way into Spanish literature. It is a short syllabic verse form found at Vole Central and some other sites around the internet.

The elements of the Wayra are:

1. a pentastich, a poem in 5 lines.
2. syllabic, 5-7-7-6-8
3. unrhymed.

   No Surrender by Judi Van Gorder

   The dark dugout cuts
   through still waters of the dense
   Everglades. Undefeated
   the sovereign Seminole
   survive. Warriors in the wind.

   Note: The Seminole Indians of Florida are the only indigenous tribe within the borders of the US to never surrender to the US army. The indigenous Seminole word for wind is also wayra.