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Descort

Type:  

Structure, Metrical Requirement, Other Requirement

 
Description: 

Descort is French for "discord", and the form is almost more of a non-form. It requires that each stanza or verse have some similar lyrical elements; however, that they be totally different forms. Each stanza should be verse, that is, a structured portion of poetry, but not the same. They can conform to known verse structures or be nonce forms. Some descorts have even used different languages in different stanzas.

 
Origin: 

French

 
Schematic: 
Varies within the poem as well as between.
 
Strengths: 

Like any nonce form, the poet has great flexibility. In this case, it is a string of dissimilar nonce forms, so the flexibility is even greater.

 
Weaknesses: 

The greatest weakness is that the poem will fall apart if there is not a strong enough tie between the disparate stanzas. If multiple languages are used for different stanzas, the poet is automatically limiting the audience to multi-lingual readers.

 
Starting Point: 

Start with a decision about an element to tie the stanzas together. It could be the use of anaphora or other poetic device. It could be having the first line in a specific meter, even though subsequent lines of each stanza might differ considerably. It could be an element of repetition. It could be a combination of these. There are any number of ways for a poet to link the stanzas.

 
Examples: 

 
See Also:  

Anaphora, Dorsimbra, Macaronic Verse, Nonce

 
Status: 

Complete

 

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