I love and hate the writing of poetry in form. Some of my favorite forms are the triolet and the villanelle that employ the use of repeating lines. Favorite, in the sense that they tend to infuriate me like a jigsaw puzzle, but so satisfying when completed. 

A triolet is a one stanza eight-line poem with an ABaAabAB rhyme scheme. The first, fourth and seventh lines are identical, as well as the second and final lines.

Triolets that somehow change the meaning of the repeating line seem particularly accomplished. You will notice that the triolet I am sharing today, doesn’t change the meaning of those repeated lines as it goes. 

Triolet

The sun is off to bed, my dear

And darkness gathers shadows in

She whispers as she pulls him near

The sun is off to bed, my dear

Come closer, child, away with fear

This world turns gently in its spin

The sun is off to bed, my dear

And darkness gathers shadows in.

                        –Kristy Dempsey (all rights reserved)