How to Write a Triolet

A triolet is a form of poetry comprised of eight lines and a rhyme scheme of ABaAabAB. Lines one, four, and seven are identical. Lines two and eight are identical. Classic triolets uses iambic tetrameter in all lines but modern poets use varying meters. This "how to" utilizes the classic iambic tetrameter, which is made up of eight syllables per line with a pattern of "de DUM de DUM de DUM de DUM".

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper and pencil or word processor
• Creativity
• Patience

Instructions

1. Write line one. It should contain eight syllables.

2. Write line two that does not rhyme with line one. It should contain eight syllables.

3. Write line three and end it with a word that rhymes with the last word of line one from Step 1. It should contain eight syllables.

4. Repeat line one from Step 1.

5. Write line five and end it with a word that rhymes with the last word of line one from Step 1. It should contain eight syllables.

6. Write line six and end it with a word that rhymes with the last word of line one from Step 2. It should contain eight syllables.

7. Repeat line one from Step 1.

8. Repeat line two from Step 2.

Tips & Warnings

• Although this poem is comprised of eight lines, only five are unique because lines four, seven, and eight are repeats of lines one and two.

Resources

• Example of a triolet

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