Persian/Arabic Poetry Forms in English (1): The Ghazal

The Origins of (or Mythology behind) Arabic Ghazal form:

1] Bernard M. Jackson has an excellent introduction to the origins of 'The Ghazal - A Poem of Passion' on p.38 of the latest edition of Quantum Leap (ed. Alan Carter), issue No. 51 for August 2010.

2] Gino Peregrini has brought out his Arabic Challenge edition of The Ghazal Page.

*

Compose an Arabic Ghazal! Instructions can be found here:

You will find Gino's edition here, along with a description of the form (and here).

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My published example:

in the Arabic Challenge edition of The Ghazal Page: 'A Lonely Soul'*.

* ref. [8/2010]

Familiar Forms (2): The Kyrielle

'We leave the high road through the glen...'

from
The Winding Way
by Caroline Gill

[photo: sheep on Raasay]

I have just heard that my Kyrielle, The Winding Way*, has taken Joint Second Position in the Metverse Muse Fixed Form Poetry Competition 2010.

Dr H. Tulsi from Visakhatpatnam is the editor of Metverse Muse. The magazine's new book of poetry forms, Muse Clad in Costumes, contains two of my poems. I am looking forward to its arrival from India.

The Origins of (or Mythology behind) the Kyrielle:

The Kyrielle originated in France, where it was a favourite form of the Troubadours. The name evolves from the word Kyrie - as in liturgical Christian prayers. The title, Kyrie, derives from the Greek word, κύριος.

• Kyrielle
• Definition in the Encyclopedia Britannica

Compose a Kyrielle! Instructions can be found here:

• Robert Lee Brewer
  

My published example:

The Winding Way (in a new book of poetry forms, Muse Clad in Costumes, a Metverse Muse publication edited by Dr H. Tulsi, Visakhatpatnam, India, Summer 2010)


* [ref. 10/2010]

Poetics (1): Quotations on Craft

• Introduction and Welcome

'True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,

As those move easiest who have learned to dance...'

*
Alexander Pope

An Essay on Criticism