MSN Home  |  My MSN  |  Hotmail
Sign in to Windows Live ID Web Search:   
go to MSNGroups 
Groups Home  |  My Groups  |  Language  |  Help  
 
Spirit MusingsContains "mature" content, but not necessarily adult.SpiritMusings@groups.msn.com 
  
What's New
  Join Now
  Welcome Page  
  ALL BOARDS  
  Humour and Fun  
  "Muse Moments"  
  "Serial Works"  
  "Writers Tools"  
  Links  
  Pictures  
  Book Order Info  
  Poetry Styles  
  The Challenges  
  World Time Clock  
  
  
  Tools  
 

SHAIRI or RUSTAVELIAN QUATRAIN


The shairi is a form comprised of monorhymed quatrains, with each of the four lines having 15 or 16 syllables. But don't worry - it's not "iambic octometer" or any such thing. Further, the lines typically rhyme on the final 2 or 3 syllables, as opposed to a single-syllabic rhyme.

Poem rhyme scheme - AAAA BBBB CCCC etc.

For example, if you were to use "intention/prevention" as 2 of the words ending a line in a stanza, in this particular case the syllables rhyming would be "ten-tion", "ven-tion" etc. The last 2 syllables in each word of the stanza, rhyme.  Or if you can do it - rhyme the last 3 syllables, it's harder but not impossible.

Shota Rustaveli wrote "The Knight in the Panther's Skin," Georgia's national epic, towards the end of the twelfth century. It tells of a young prince helping to find a friend's beloved, who has been captured by devils. Rustaveli used a particularly difficult form for it, known by the Georgian word shairi.

I've set it up so you can see how the last 2 syllables in each stanza rhyme with each other.

Example:

The Valedictory
S. Cat July 2/05

The man looked to the heavens, then down at the congregation
Stood at the lecturn, cleared his throat, began his recitation
"Thanks to science, we're on the cusp of computerization
Harness this knowledge, utilize it upon graduation

"An adventure unfolds; like the settlers that crossed the prairie
We step into the unknown, these first steps are terribly scary."
"Looking to the abyss of our past from high on present eyrie
Missteps could cause us to falter, failure awaits the unwary."

"Unleash your imagination, Be bold, be innovating,
You never know what major breakthroughs you'll achieve by creating."
"Tools have been impressed upon our minds, knowledge; are you relating?"
"Your dreams could set new boundaries, the future's out therewaiting!"

Notice: Microsoft has no responsibility for the content featured in this group. Click here for more info.
  Try MSN Internet Software for FREE!
    MSN Home  |  My MSN  |  Hotmail  |  Search
Feedback  |  Help  
  ©2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.  Legal  Advertise  MSN Privacy