When I first began writing, I wrote poetry. It is challenging to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end using a limited number of words. Then, add to my dilemma by deciding what form to use that shows that poem off the best.

It’s like when I purchase a picture that grabs my attention, but now I have to choose the right frame to display it when I finally hang it on the wall. That’s why I love working with different poetry forms. To me, they provide me with so many frames to show off my words best.

Different patterns best suit specific poems. I especially like the Welsh compositions, which are great for romantic and spiritual poetry.

There are thirteen Welsh poetry structures, and one I like is the Cyrch A Chwta. It involves both end rhymes and internal (or cross) rhymes.

a. It uses an Octave Stanza (eight-line stanza)
b. Seven syllables per line
c. Lines one through seven and eight end rhyme together.
d. Line seven cross rhymes with line eight (internally) on either syllable three, four, or five.

The ‘A’ rhyme appears at least seven times per stanza.

    Example:

   Soul Cries
(Cyrch A Chwta)

Slow the sun sets in twilight
Soft tears fell swiftly this night.
No kisses in the moonlight
Her heart aches with no respite.

Longing for love in the night
A dream that fades in daylight
Stars sparkle with no answers
Just tears in this evenlight.

Another great Welsh configuration for Romantic poems is the Cywdd devair Fyrion.

The Cywydd devair Fyrion is a Welsh couplet (or two-line stanza) pattern. Lines are four syllables with an AA rhyme for each couplet. We can combine multiple couplets into a stanza or poem, or a poet can write a simple eight-syllable, two-line poem.

       Whispers
(Cywdd devair Fyrion)

On moonlit beams
like silver streams.
Sighing whispers
ride yon zephyrs.

Soft wondrous dreams
float down life’s streams.
Of sweet kisses
on lips tease.

Hints of Heaven
in prose written.
How love should be
down and earthy.

My spirit cries
with heartfelt sighs.
Set my heart free
I plead, love me.

Choosing a format can be difficult, but the proper form can highlight your words and be the final touch needed to complete the poem.

There are a lot of arrangements to play with, so as a wordsmith, enjoy trying them out and see what works of poetry art you can create with your structure choice.