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Writer's pictureAntonio Eramo

Short and Sweet: The Curtal Sonnet


The Curtal Sonnet is perhaps one the most unique sonnet forms. Unlike traditional sonnets, which consist of 14 lines, the Curtal sonnet consists of 11, with the final line being half length (5 syllables). The form was created by Gerard Manley Hopkins. The form is proportionally three quarters of a Petrarchan sonnet, therefor, the volta can be found between the sestet and the quintet.

 

Structure: 

a sestet and a quintet


Rhyme Scheme: 

abcabc dcbdc or abcabc dbcdc


Template :

                                                      (a)

                                                      (b)

                                                      (c)

                                                      (a)

                                                      (b)

                                                      (c)


                                                      (d)

                                                      (c) or (b)

                                                      (b) or (c)

                                                      (d)

                         (c)


Example:

The Memory of Psychosis

  

my memory has fallen through the cracks...

reminders written on blank post-it notes

can't remind me what it was I forgot

running in circles retracing my tracks

heartbeat echoes speaking in anecdotes

leave only traces of maddening thought

 

through the floorboards I find myself falling

wanting to climb out but trying for naught

all I can hear are their taunting and quotes

of "nevermore" and tell-tale hearts calling

singing woe and whatnot


Jamie Santomasso

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