CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

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 a variant insisted on by novelist Robertson Davies. Davies insisted that the englyn must have four lines. The first line should have 10 syllables, the second should have 6, and the last two lines should have 7 syllables each. His form also states that there must be a break after the seventh, eighth OR ninth syllable, and that this is where the rhyme is introduced. The second line rhymes with the break, and the last syllable of the first line must be linked by either rhyme or assonance with the 3rd or 4th syllable of the second line. The third and fourth lines must rhyme on a weak syllable and must rhyme with the rhyme in the first line—very similar to the first form of englyn. The Troll Queen She stands beneath the ancient-most bridges where there lingers bones lost She defies al...

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 cyrch. The englyn cyrch consists of a four-line verse. Each verse has seven syllables. The final syllables of the first, second and fourth lines rhyme. The last syllable of the third line rhymes with the second, third or fourth syllable of the last line. Full-Moon Frolic Pixies dance in the moonlight Unicorns romp with horns bright Dancing the long night away Dancing, a magical sight From the forest, satyrs creep Bring their pipes, their wine long-steeped Amidst fern-lined magic stills Laughter fills the forest deeps Why don’t you give it a try? Try writing at least one englyn cyrch for each day of the week. You can find out more about how to write englyns from the following sites: http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/englyn.htm http://en.wikipedia.o...

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 unodl crwca. The englyn unodl crwca consists of a four-line verse. The first line has seven syllables, the second has seven, and the third has ten, and fourth line has six. The first, second and fourth lines rhyme, and they rhyme with the seventh, eighth or ninth syllable in the third line. Night-time Hopes, Daytime Dreams In the dark, the headlights gleam Slice the night-time like a scream Let no man know just what you dream, tonight, For nothing is what it seems Darkness sometimes is your friend Daylight nightmares brings, not ends, Sometimes it’s best to keep hidden away The secrets which courage lend When the dawn comes, bold and bright Chase away the doubting night Bringing out into broad daylight, your friends, Those who give you strength ...

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 unodl union. The englyn unodl union consists of a four-line verse. The first line has ten syllables, the second has six, and the third and fourth lines have seven. The rhyme is introduced in the seventh, eighth or ninth syllable of the first line, and repeated at the end of the second, third and fourth lines. The first syllable after the rhyme in the first line rhymes with the first part of the second line. Once again, I’ve chosen to make a longer poem from several verses that follow these rules. The Troll Lord Cometh The troll lord cometh through the pre-dawn gloam Roaming from the bridge, he mourns, night-time’s loss, the coming dawn, hides within his lair forlorn. When dusk shrouds the world in soft black and grey Away from the shadows, back, Back away, ...

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 milwr. The englyn milwr consists of a three-line verse. Each line is seven-syllables long, and all lines rhyme. The englyn milwr is also known as the soldier’s englyn. I thought I’d try a slightly longer englyn, made of verses that followed the rules above. I don’t think that’s against the rules… The Soldier’s Path The soldier marched a long way from his home, where heart held sway As he marched his thoughts did stray He missed working in the field missed his wife, the kiss she’d yield missed her pies, the apples peeled When the war was done and gone The soldier marched each step home For his wife was still the one Why don’t you give it a try? Try writing at least one englyn milwr for each day of the week. You can find out more about how to ...