Maybe years of listening to Shakespearian verse has taken its toll, but I found the next exercise quite hard and counter-intuitive. The idea is that syllabic count and rhyme don’t matter. Instead, each half line should contain two beats, and all four in the line should follow the ‘bang, bang, bang, crash’ pattern of alliteration. Although I more or less managed those constraints, I couldn’t help but be influenced by the syllables as well. Anyway, we were asked to write about something that was on out minds, and it was late at night so here goes:
You tricked me with tenderness, teased me with love
You cheerfully charmed me, a child with a toy
You played with my pleasure, you purchased my faith
You surprised me with presents, both pretty and sweet
I trusted your tenderness, treasured your kiss
But a coward was coldly and cruely beneath
You left me alone, I was cold and deceived
I should not have gone near, I should not have believed
Your words seemed so witty, your words seemed so true
How stupid and silly to see such in you.
I couldn’t help the last couple of rhymes, and the alliteration in line 8 depends on the rhythm, so I guess it’s not in the true spirit.
I’m looking forward to getting back to the syllabic stuff!
