Mrs. Hudson's Poetry Page: The Six Napoleons

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Welcome once again to my poetry page!

I hope each week you will read Dr. Watson’s delightful narrative and then be inspired to write a poem related to it in some way. All forms of poetry are permitted, and further down the page there is a selection you might like to consider using over the coming weeks.

This week my featured form is the rime couée. It is a kind of sestet.

The Poets Garret gives this definition:

This is a French form consisting of two rhymes. First there is a rhyming couplet normally of eight syllables, then a third and shorter line of six. The two couplets rhyme, as do the two shorter lines. This gives us a suggested pattern:

x x x x x x x a
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x b
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x b


I will also add part of Poets Collective’s definition:

L1, L2, L4, L5 are longer lines of a similar length, L3 and L6 are shorter lines of the same length. Rhyme scheme aabccb, ddeffe etc.

So, I believe you do not have to keep exactly to the syllable count if you do not wish to—just as long as you have those two shorter lines. And though obviously each couplet must rhyme within itself, the two couplets do not necessarily have to rhyme with each other.


Here is my example poem:


You keep as still as a statue
But, Mr. Holmes, I did catch you
Wedged in my cupboard space.
And there is a reason, I trust,
For hands on Mr. Hopkins’ bust—
But it’s not: “For a case...”

[Mod’s note: other ships are available.]



As always, this is simply something to consider for the future. Any form of poetry is welcome this week—and every week! Here are a few suggestions for you:

221B verselet, abecedarian poetry, acrostic poetry, alexandrine, blackout poetry, call and response, cinquain, circular poetry, clerihew, colour poems, concrete poetry, diamante, doggerel, double dactyl, ekphrasis, elegiac couplet, englyn, epigram, epulaeryu, fable, found poetry, ghazal, haiku, kennings poem, lanturne, limerick, lyric poetry, palindrome poetry, pantoum, poem cycle, renga, riddle, rime couée, Schüttelreim, sedoka, septet, sestina, sonnet, tanka, tercet, terza rima, tongue twister poetry, triolet, tyburn, villanelle


Please leave all your poems inspired by The Six Napoleons in the comments on this post. I look forward to seeing them!


Warm regards,

Mrs. Hudson

Comments

A rime couée

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

From Holmes, S. To Mr. Brown, J:
A murderer’s coming your way!
He’ll burgle you tonight.
I think my plan contains no flaws
But best lock all internal doors..?
Brown beamed. “That seems all right.”

Re: A rime couée

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Mr Brown clearly does not know Mr Holmes as well as I do!

RE: A rime couée

[debriswoman]

He was remarkably relaxed about the whole thing:-)

Re: A rime couée

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Brown is so, so laid back. Meh.

Re: A rime couée

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Mr. Brown may have relished an opportunity to have an actual adventure in his dull ordinary adult life, involving the police and detectives and a murderer. Must have made him feel like a boy again - and given him a tale that would outshine everyone else's at the club that night!

A Limerick:

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Busts, busted. “A complex,” Doc vowed.
From High Street to docklands they ploughed.
Holmes cut through the whirl,
And found the Black Pearl.
Lestrade isn’t jealous – he’s proud.

Re: A Limerick:

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Excellent summary.

RE: A Limerick:

[debriswoman]

Neat summary, and, yes, all working together:-)
I did like the list of bits of London in the tale, btw

Re: A Limerick:

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Like debriswoman, I enjoyed your nod to Watson's listing of areas of London. And it's lovely that all three men are there in the limerick - it's a great last line especially ^^

Re: A Limerick:

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I love the last bit of praise/camaraderie that Lestrade gives him at the end. Very sweet.

Re: The Reveal...written earlier

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

What an excellent way to show both sides of the great reveal.

Re: The Reveal...written earlier

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

It does rather tie in with the rime couée - the curtal sonnet having that last short line ^^

I love the way you show the correlation between the revealing of the pearl and Holmes' genius, and the revealing of how much Lestrade and Watson admire Holmes. (It also reveals the genius of the poet ^__^) The admiration of my friends revealed - I find this rather touching. It kind of suggests that Holmes is longing to see their admiration as much as Watson is longing to see the human side of Holmes.

Re: The Reveal...written earlier

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Very well done. I like the reveal scene so much. A lot going on there and you captured it beautifully.

Re: The Reveal...written earlier

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Nicely done - right down to keeping the same rhyming words at the ends of the verses.

Re: A Rime Couee...Contains pearly angst...

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Beppo must have rued his choice of hiding place.

Re: A Rime Couee...Contains pearly angst...

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Well done! Lovely!

Re: A Rime Couee...Contains pearly angst...

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I love "six shilling space" and "pearl amongst plaster" ^^ And what an interesting POV to choose ^_^

The poetry of Mrs H....response from Hopkins

[debriswoman]

Oh, Mrs H, you seem quite shocked...
(And really, truly should have knocked,
Not burst in suddenly.)
Some gin? The shelves are quite well stocked...
This neat, discrete, small space unlocked
Our cupboard love...you see.
~0~

Re: The poetry of Mrs H....response from Hopkins

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Ha, ha, ha! I love this!

Re: The poetry of Mrs H....response from Hopkins

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Mr. Hopkins, it is my d_____ cupboard and I will burst in any time I so desire.

But I must admire your adept way with a poem. It is good to see the younger generation receiving such an excellent literary education.

Your poem, Mrs H

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I can understand your frustration at such events, but I suggest you accept nice Inspector Hopkins offer of the gin. It's probably as good as you'll get.

Re: Your poem, Mrs H

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I did indeed accept the gin.

Then shut the door again and engaged the external bolt.

This week's form: Rhymy bits with dodgy metre

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

The good Emperor must
In his grave give a twirl
And may indeed have cussed
As he saw the story unfurl
‘Cos he’d found that his bust
Was used for hiding a pearl

RE: This week's form: Rhymy bits with dodgy metre

[debriswoman]

Poor Napoleon...no respect...

attempt rime couee

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

With a well-placed blow from a crop,
The lustrous Borgia pearl did drop.
“Hurrah!” Watson shouted.
“The senseless smashing now will stop!
Lestrade, pray don’t descend to strop!
Holmes should not be doubted.”

Re: attempt rime couee

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Very well put!