How to Write a Triolet

The Triolet, a poetic style which originates from France in the late 13^th century, is a fairly short poem consisting of overall eight lines, in a single stanza. Triolets are very easy to write and novice poets are advised to start learning how to write poetry by beginning with triolets. Triolets are called so because the 1st, 4th and 7th lines are the same (three idenical lines). This poetic style became popular among British poets in the late 19^th century, although it was first written in English language much earlier by the Benedictine monk Patrick Carey.

Indeed, repetition characterizes the Triolet. The pattern consists of one line repeated thrice in the poem as the first, the fourth and the seventh line of the poem. The second and the eighth (last) lines of the poem also comprise exactly the same words. This means that only lines 3 and 5 rhyme with each other and are different, and line 6 stands on its own completely. This forms the following scheme: AB c A cd AB. Moreover, when making an attempt at learning how to write Triolet, you should remember that while you have to repeat the specific lines, they should also naturally flow into the non-repetitive lines so as to create genuine smoothness and make sense. After all, the Triolet is not just about structure and the achievement of visual effect, but also about meaning and sense.

As for the rhythm, the Triolet normally follows the iambic tetrameter. This means that if we have four words per line, and each word has two syllables, then every first syllable should be unstressed, and the following second monosyllabic word should be stressed. Then the pattern of stressed - unstressed syllables, known in poetic jargon as one 'foot', should be repeated in each word throughout the whole poem. Of course, it is difficult to measure every word you write and check its own rhyming pattern as to decide whether you can use it or not. Therefore if you have more words (or syllables) per line when you have just started learning how to write the Triolet, you should not worry as long as you keep the stressed - unstressed scheme. For example, if the final syllable of a word is stressed, the first syllable of the following word must be unstressed.

Thomas Hardy has written Triolets, which can be viewed online at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16815 .

For comparison, you can view a Triolet with two stanzas at: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-country-wife/

Triolets are also often marked by grammatical deviations such as omission of punctuation marks. As for the meaning of the Triolet, humorous or satirical topics are often preferred. Triolets are not supposed to be and are not considered serious work, hence problematic themes are not usually treated in this poetic genre. Of course, you can write on any topic of your choice but you should try to preserve the essence of the Triolet.