Terza Rima is a rhyme scheme that was invented by Dante Alighieri. It involves interlocking tercets (3 line stanzas), where line 1 and line 3 of any given stanza rhyme with line 2 of the preceding stanza. The terza Rima sonnet consists of 4 tercets followed by a couplet aba bcb cdc ded ee. Like all sonnets, there is a conflict/question and a volta where the tone/voice shifts, in an english terza rima sonnet, the volta can typically be found at the final couplet.
Structure:
4 tercets and a couplet
Rhyme Scheme:
aba bcb cdc ded ee
Template :
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(d)
Volta
(e)
(3)
Example:
Gasp for Gain
Two lips supplant tulips through panting might
still, ranting might paint vulgar all this pain
if satori should bloom in dark of night
Will morning glory grow to gasp for gain?
or grasp that all is lost at sight of frost
shallow my roots in cahoots with this rain
How cross this holy would that I accost
with stains against my grains of falling sand
words hold worth but hold a holocaust
Footprints display a path I don't command
I walk along and motion with my thumb
why should I carry faith across this land
Right hand of god is callous cold and numb
and only fools would clamor for a crumb
Antonio Eramo
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