A Kyrielle Sonnet consists of 3 rhyming quatrains and a non-rhyming couplet for a total of 14 lines. Each line contains 8 syllables. There is a repeating line or phrase that acts as a refrain. This is typically the last line of each stanza. Because French poetry tends to link the end of a poem back to the beginning, it is common to use the 1st & last lines of the 1st quatrain as the ending couplet.
The rhyme scheme is up to the poet. Some recommended patterns are: AabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB -or- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB.
The following link includes an example of a Kyrielle Sonnet:
Snowfall Sunrise by Carrie Page
Do you have an example of a Kyrielle Sonnet you’d like to share? Leave a link to it in the comments!
OOPS! Did you find an error? Please let me know. Leave a comment.
Carrie Mayhem 