Because our world's too crowded, we fear strangers,
treating foreigners with disdain and contempt.
Yet, xenophobia is fraught with dangers;
laws can help, but the entitled feel exempt.
"Go back to where you came from;" such racial slurs
taunts many minority entrepreneurs.
How easily we tend to forget our roots
and what being a true Christian constitutes.
(Rispetto)
04/28/2023
Writing Challenge - Words with 'X'
Sponsored by: Constance La France
"Xenophobia"... Rhymezone/HowManySyllables
Rispetto
The Rispetto lyric is generally composed of eight hendecasyllabic (11-syllable) lines. Early on the rhyme scheme was usually abababcc , but ababccdd is now more prominent.
At times, I'd just like to slap that Seuss;
hendecasyllabic seems obtuse.
But Gwawdodyn's no use: three nines, a ten,
and internal rhymes to be set loose.
----
There! Now I can say I've tried a Gwawdodyn: a Welsh quatrain with an aaxa rhyme scheme, specific syllable counts (9/9/10/9), and internal rhyme requirements on line 3. Onward!
1-xxxxxxxxa
2-xxxxxxxxa
3-xxxxbxxxxb
4-xxxxxxxxa
Hendecasyllabic
Cold day - Christmas is snow and mistletoe fun,
Christ child's praise and His sacred holy-day birth.
Humdrum born in a manger low, God's own son,
e'er He came to redeem this troubled worn earth.
So make praise and do know that we are great worth.
Handshakes, smiles and warm season greetings mean much.
Heartfelt, cheerful words made, give life a nice touch.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.