Cywydd

A cywydd is a traditional Welsh verse form built in rhyming couplets, usually with seven syllables in each line. It is often associated with cynghanedd, the intricate patterning of sound that gives Welsh verse its musical structure. Poets use the form for praise, satire, love, and reflection.

Because Welsh meter is highly formal, a cywydd is defined not only by its couplets and syllable count but also by the sound relationships inside the lines.

Example

Soft rain taps the slate roof low.
Cold stars watch the river flow.
Dawn wakes the hens with pale light.
Foxes slip away by starlight.

Related Definitions

Links

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  • How many syllables are in Cywydd.
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