Hello, Bastet here.
Last week whilst commenting with one of our writers I mentioned the Kyrielle Sonnet and she hadn’t heard about it … I think perhaps we’ve already done the Kyrielle Sonnet in one of it’s two versions .. the real one and mine ( 😉 ) but I thought we’d have another look today.
First of all .. let’s remember that a Kyrielle is a poem of French descent and by applying certain rules becomes part of the family of sonnets … which include: The Italian Sonnet (Petrarchan Sonnet), The English Sonnet (Shakespearian Sonnet), The Spenserian Sonnet, The Modern Sonnet, The Kyrielle Sonnet and The Indefinable Sonnets etc.
Let’s look at the structure of a Kyrielle Poem … it is composed of rhyming three quatrains (four lines) or stanzas and like all Classical French poetry it is octosyllabic (eight syllables). Each quatrain ends with the same line (known as a refrain) – it becomes a sonnet when we add a couplet at the end of the poem composed of the first line and the refrain – so it’s important to choose your first line wisely. The rhyming structures are:
AbaB
cbbB
dbdB
AB
or
AabB
ccbB
ddbB
eebB
AB
Of course as in all things it’s easier to write a Kyrielle Sonnet rather than describe how to write a Kyrielle Sonnet! So here’s an example from my personal archives called:
Alas the words don’t come to me!
My blank mind keeps me company
Not sure of what to write just now,
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
I would write of bikes and flowers
Maybe of grapes on their bowers
But no words come of trees or bough
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
But cows are not inspiring!
This is becoming alarming!
Oh Bastet give your cat meow!
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
Alas the words don’t come to me!
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
© G.s.k. ’13
(my personal variation to the Kyrielle Sonnet is to write it without rhyming)
So … we have the form and I hope I’ve been lucid in describing this form, it’s one of my favourites. Now let’s look for inspiration!

So, once you feel inspired (either by my photo above or by your own chosen medium) and have written your poem (either a Kyrielle Sonnet or a Shadorma – or perhaps a combination of the two?), please tag your work: Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie and B&P’s Shadorma & Beyond then link to our Mr. Linky App:
Hope you have fun this week! Happy writing, Bastet.
For extra reading:
The Poet’s Garret Sonnets 2007 Form Challenges #7 Kyrielle Sonnet
[…] My response to Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie B&P’s Shadorma & Beyond – Kyrielle […]
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It looks like I’m fist with this one! Maybe it’s because I love Italy and this picture is so gorgeous!
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Thanks for being the first .. I’ve been having connection problems – living in the Italian “hinterland” can definitely have its disadvantages … I can’t wait to see your work!
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Should say ‘first’ – sorry!
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lol … understood!
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[…] For: B&P’s Shadorma & Beyond – Kyrielle Poem […]
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oh boy this one’s a toughie but I want to try it…now I need to choose a rhyme scheme and those all important first lines….hmmm…
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Great post, great photo!
When im a bit more settled I’ll try my hand at the shadorma, though this form is a lot of fun … as is your poem 🙂
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Thanks Paloma .. glad you enjoyed the post and poem and will be looking forward to reading your work! 🙂
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[…] This was really hard. Not sure I’ll try this one again unless I need a poetic torture device 😉 I like Shakespearean sonnets (as you know). I tried this for Bastet’s Kyrielle Sonnet prompt on Mindlovesmisery’s Menagrie. […]
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I gave it a try:
http://melindakucsera.com/stars-dance-a-kyrielle-sonnet
I’m not sure it makes logical sense but it follows the form.
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Do I get brownie points for that? 😉
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You get a whole batch of double dutch dark brownie points 😉
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🙂 yay!
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Logic is oversold … I can’t wit to read your work and so sorry I’m late!
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🙂 I hope you enjoy it 🙂
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Drats…now I can’t write about a spotted cow:) Great explanation of the form with your poem as a model. Looks difficult.
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Actually Rall, you can write about a spotted cow .. there should be a not attached to that sonnet … and spotted cow should be capitalized as I was inspired by a brand of beer sold in Wisconsin, which is a favourite in my sister house. 😀 http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/index.cfm/beers/ourbeers/beer/spotted-cow
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And it’s not at all difficult believe me 🙂
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I think I may stick to the Shadorma this week…
But maybe if I hold off until Little Miss rests.
I really like the ‘painting’… ? If it is a photo it looks like a painting!
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Glad you enjoyed the ‘painting’ – I had a lot of fun editing it and it sits on my desktop … if you feel more inclined to the shadorma there’s no problem at all – remember this was first a shadorma prompt … 😉
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Thank you for the way you posted the example. I’ve written two pieces…
One a Shadorma Summation (multi prompts) and the other an actual Kyrielle sonnet. But I’ll have to post when Little Miss goes home.
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Thanks so much for all your efforts! I’m terribly sorry to be late reading, but as you see I’m on-line today so hope to make it up!
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There is no ‘late’ in cyber space 😉
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[…] of chair at table with cup of tea or coffee, spider web, odd doll faces, quote, old camera and film B&P’s Shadorma & Beyond Please see the illustration: Rain Over Rovereto by G.s.k. dark | side | thursday | fortytwo […]
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I may have messed up the linky:
No Good Deed & Disillusioned Docent
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Not to worry … we’ll see!
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[…] Mindlovesmisery’s Menagerie’s Photo Challenge and B&P’s Shadorma and Beyond – Kyrielle Sonnet […]
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