Poetry Challenge—Introducing the Englyn: Form 8—the Englyn Lleddbroest
An englyn is a form of Welsh or Cornish verse, with a reputation of being hard to master. It has several different variants, all of which are governed by strict rules. This week, we’ll look at the englyn lledfbroest. The englyn lledfbroest consists of a four-line verse. Each line has seven syllables that half rhyme with each other. A half-rhyme is one where the final consonants agree. In the englyn lleddfbroest the half rhymes must use the following dipthongs: ae, oe, wy and ei. I have used ‘ay’ instead of ‘ae’ to reflect changes in the English language, included ‘ow’ to be synonymous with ‘oe’, and used ‘ai’ as the same rhyme as ‘ei’. I’m not sure if these variations are acceptable to purists, but they work rhyme-wise. I Live Again My heart had gone far away My terror I held at bay Never hoped to see the day Thought I’d died and dead I’d stay Then morning broke night’s dark reign I felt blood move in my veins I raised my head, breathed again Took up th