The triolet is a poem composed of eight lines. Our rhyme scheme here - ABaAabAB - looks a bit complex, but don't worry, I'll explain. Uppercase A's are all repeats of the first line. Uppercase B symbolizes a repeat of the second line. Lowercase a rhymes with uppercase A, but is a new line. Ditto on lowercase b, except, obviously, it rhymes with uppercase B, not A.
With A and B repeating so often, you must be sure that they are strong, stellar lines. They are the glue that holds your poem together.
When I googled "common triolet themes," love and loss came up. I am trying my hand at each to give you a sense of what a triolet could look like.
A. I'll be home for Christmas.
B. In flesh, I hope, in spirit, if not.
a. I miss you, my darling Beatrice.
A. I'll be home for Christmas.
a. Do you miss me, darling Beatrice?
b. Oh how my heart would break if your answer was naught.
A. I'll be home for Christmas,
B. In flesh, I hope, in spirit, if not.
I lost my Great Grampy recently. He was indeed a special man, loved very much by his family, especially by his wife, my Great Grammy. I hope she doesn't mind that I took off the "greats" to make this poem flow better :) If you see this, Great Grammy, I hope this poem makes you smile.
A. I miss you, Grampy.
B. I want to be as much like you as I can.
a. Strong, dependable, good to Grammy.
A. I miss you, Grampy.
a. You held together this family,
b. You and Grammy. She was your biggest fan.
A. I miss you, Grampy.
B. I want to be as much like you as I can.
A. You loved woodworking.
B. All those towel holders, tables, shelves.
a. I started my first shelf, you know. Lots of sawing.
A. You loved woodworking.
a. I don't like electric saws, but I like remembering.
b. Thanks for something to remember besides our tearful farewells.
A. You loved woodworking.
B. All those towel holders, tables, shelves.
A. Never proud, but loving and humble.
B. Teasing, but always kind.
a. "You got a boyfriend yet?" Ten year old me gave a small giggle.
A. Never proud, but loving and humble.
a. "Not yet, Great Grampy, I'm too little!"
b. Always lending a tool or a hand to help someone out of a bind.
A. Never proud, but loving and humble.
B. Teasing, but always kind.
Do you see how I wove three triolets together? This can be fun to do, especially with shorter poems like the triolet or the limerick.
Hey, what are you waiting for? Copy the rhyme scheme for a triolet into your poetry notebook, and pick one of the prompts below:
Write a triolet on love or loss. This can be about a person you love, or have lost, or perhaps a pet, or even a houseplant that you really like or have lost.
Write a triolet about your favourite hobby, about why you love it, or why you think other people should try it!
For the final prompt, weave together three triolets, using each of them as just one stanza of your poem. You may use one of the above themes, or a theme you choose.