How many lines in your stanzas?

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How many lines in your stanzas?

William James
Junior Member

since 2008-05-05

Posts 31
Ohio

0 posted 2008-05-05 12:08 PM

I usually write four lines such as AABB, ABAB or less commonly AAAA,BBBB,CCCC... for each succeeding stanza. Some are five lines of AABBA. A few are AABAAB or AAC BBA or AAB CCB. The majority are four line stanzas. How do your words stack up?

Discussion of meter could be its own thread for those who understand what 'iambic pentameter' means. For me the words just come out and I don't know what the structure of the poem is until I'm well into it. It just happens.

Will

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2008-05-05 01:35 PM

Anyone who knows me, knows that I deal well, and best, with free verse.

My lines, at times, seem unending...

Essorant
Member Elite

since 2002-08-10

Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada

2 posted 2008-05-05 01:38 PM

AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLL...

But sometimes I prefer to break them into groups:

AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIJJ KKLL...

I think you get the idea

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

3 posted 2008-05-05 03:46 PM

I like to vary my schemes.. as long as they rhyme.

The Shadow in Blue
Member

since 2006-05-18

Posts 493
EL, Michigan

4 posted 2008-05-06 05:32 PM

My stanza scheme is not planned out really, but it just so happens to be perfectly planned free verse...with a sporadic rhyme scheme if it so chooses to be.
(I usually have 4-5 lines per stanza. Again it all depends on what I'm writing at the time and how it pans out.)

~Jill

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