OVILLEJO
Poetic Bloomings
An OVILLEJO (the name comes from the Spanish, meaning “tight
ball of yarn”) is a verse that consists of ten lines. There are no specific
line lengths required, but the shorter lines (numbers 2, 4, and 6) are usually
no more than five syllables long, and the other seven lines no more than eight
syllables long. The rhyme scheme reveals the mystery of the form:
1. a, Longer line
2. A, Short line
3. b, Longer line
4. B, Short line
5. c, Longer line
6. C, Short line
7. c, Longer line
8. d, Longer line
9. d, Longer line
10. A+B+C <— This line combines Lines 2, 4 and 6 to
complete a thought.
Thirteen
Sometimes, I have a hanker keen;
Oh, to be thirteen
again, living inside dusk's pith
and vibrating with
sensations -sweet, intense- that dare
life’s craved mysteries fair,
that sparkle in the evening air
like glitter tossed from childish hand
to conceal secrets banned.
Oh, to be thirteen and vibrating with life’s craved mysteries fair.