Doublet

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing
American Verse

The Doublet is a little known form created by Adelaide Crapsey, (1878-1914) who is better known for her innovative "Crapsey" Cinquain. Ms. Crapsey's grounding in English metric verse combined with her studies of Asian poetry helps to make her "small poem" frames fit the English language a little better than the syllabic parameters of Asian forms. The doublet is a 2 line poem but it incorporates the title into the poem, in effect creating a 3 line verse. Some compare it to the haiku. The elements of the Doublet are:

1. a distich with an integrated or bridging title which in effect creates a 3 line poem.
2. syllabic, each line 10 syllables or less.
3. rhymed, aa. The title is not rhymed.

   On Seeing Weather-Beaten Trees by Adelaide Crapsey

   Is it as plainly in our living shown,
   By slant and twist, which way the wind hath blown?

   When Starting a New Diet by Judi Van Gorder

   Gather the tools to guide your way,
   resolve and commitment begin the day.

   Since we already know how this will end by Zoe Fitzgerald

   I find it fully pointless to pursue
   A reconciled relationship with you.