Kouta: Poetic Forms
Poetic Form Fridays are made to share various poetic forms. This week, we look at the kouta, a Japanese quatrain (or 4-line) form.
Poetic Form Fridays are made to share various poetic forms. This week, we look at the kouta, a Japanese quatrain (or 4-line) form.
Kouta Poems
The only poetic mention of kouta I've found (online or in print) is in Robin Skelton's The Shapes of Our Singing, though I did find a post on Japan Info that claims it was a traditional song of geisha. Both sources also interpret the word kouta as meaning "little song." Skelton provides two variations of these little songs.
Kouta (Version 1): quatrain (or 4 lines) with the following syllable count per line: 7575
Kouta (Version 2): quatrain with the following syllable count: 7775
No other rules regarding rhymes, seasonal words, subject matter, etc.
*****
Build an Audience for Your Poetry!
While your focus as a poet will always be on refining your craft, why not cultivate a following along the way? With the multitude of social networking opportunities available today, it’s never been easier to connect with other poetry enthusiasts. Within minutes, you can set up a blog and share your poems and insights with like-minded readers.
Discover how to expand your readership and apply it to your poetry sharing goals today!
*****
Here’s my attempt at a kouta:
Doe, by Robert Lee Brewer
She walked across dew-soaked grass
along with two fawns
but never looked as it passed
traffic in the dawn.
And here's the second variation:
Doe, by Robert Lee Brewer
She walked across dew-soaked grass
along with two spotted fawns
but never looked as it passed
traffic in the dawn.
