For St David’s Day, ie Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, a re-post of my poem Boxing Hare to the Celtic poetry form, the straight one-rhymed ‘englyn unodl union’. This consists of four lines of ten, six, seven and seven syllables. The seventh, eighth or ninth syllable of the first line introduces the rhyme and this is repeated on the last syllable of the other three lines. The part of the first line after the rhyme alliterates with the first part of the second line.
A good way to celebrate the day.
Boxing Hare ~ an Englyn
Boxing, racy, hatted hare, mad in March,
Much startled air. Take care!
Long ears and nostrils full flare,
Strong limbs, swift, free, outrun scare.
Polly Robinson © 2012
01/03/2013 at 15:51
What started my tryst with that form! Ah the memories!
02/03/2013 at 06:44
Those were the days
01/03/2013 at 20:59
A perfect March 1 poem.
02/03/2013 at 06:44
Thanks Robin
02/03/2013 at 07:39
Approaching spring with your paws up! Delightful.
02/03/2013 at 07:56
Oooh, I like that Lea
02/03/2013 at 09:32
smiling at lea’s comment…a wonderful image here..and very cool form as well
02/03/2013 at 11:22
heh-heh ~ we know some amazing and engaging bloggers
02/03/2013 at 11:27
The ‘anonymous’ comment is from me … wretched mobile phones!
03/03/2013 at 05:34
Oh, this is perfect, Polly!
03/03/2013 at 05:36
Just right for Saint David’s Day ~ glad you like it Susan
03/03/2013 at 17:09
ha. i love the energy in your words….its easy to see the hare but also his movement….def a feel of spring to me…
03/03/2013 at 18:04
heh-heh … springing hares
03/03/2013 at 17:10
Run, Rabbit, Run!
(very fun!)
03/03/2013 at 18:05
Thanks Sabio
03/03/2013 at 17:58
Yes, it is a good way to celebrate the day.
03/03/2013 at 18:05
Just seemed appropriate
03/03/2013 at 18:27
Enjoyed both the poem AND the form!
03/03/2013 at 18:34
Ah, that’s good news Mary
03/03/2013 at 19:20
very nice Polly. The mad, the march, the hare-love these terms, as they offer symbolic illusion as well. Great use of Englyn, always liked this form a lot. Thanks for sharing with us.
03/03/2013 at 19:57
Thank you Fred ~ great prompt
03/03/2013 at 19:55
So much energy in this piece! The perfect marriage of form and subject matter… this made me smile. Thanks so much for the great read
03/03/2013 at 19:58
Thank you Ursa, good to see you enjoyed it, love that it made you smile
03/03/2013 at 20:00
Vivid little portrait, and a hard form to work with in English, I imagine.
03/03/2013 at 20:02
Thank you Hedgewitch, and yes, you’re right, it’s a tough little cookie
03/03/2013 at 22:20
So many rules to obey in so little space, but you’ve done it brilliantly Polly. The only way this could have been more appropriate for the day is if it was about daffodils or leeks!
03/03/2013 at 23:33
heh-heh … next year, Tony, next year!!!
03/03/2013 at 23:55
Fun to read but what a challenging form ~ Cheers ~
04/03/2013 at 07:02
It is challenging but oh my it feels good when it’s done
04/03/2013 at 01:08
Wonderful form – very energetically (wonderfully) done! k.
04/03/2013 at 07:06
Thanks k. It’s a form I know I’ll return to again and again ~ it’s most satisfying when you’ve finally ‘got it’
04/03/2013 at 11:10
I really like this one! Great rhyme scheme and a well told story using such few words. Very vivid, too! Excellent!
04/03/2013 at 11:12
Thanks Charles, good to see you enjoyed it
15/04/2013 at 08:20
Oh boy!! lol I will be working on this one this week. Thank you, Polly. You are a sweetheart
15/04/2013 at 08:40
My pleasure Kira ~ enjoy