CPC #11: Crown Cinquain

Cinquain Poetry Challenge #11

The Crown Cinquain

Like the Cinq-Cinquain that we studied last week, the Crown Cinquain, or Cinquain Chain, is also made up of a series of exactly five Crapsey Cinquains. So what’s the difference? I’m glad you asked. The distinguishing feature of the Crown Cinquain appears in the two-syllable lines at the beginning and end of each stanza, as they are used to link one stanza to another. This process is called a forming link, a chain, or a corona (hence crown).

To be more specific, the last line of each cinquain is repeated as the first line of the next cinquain.

There is one other slight difference. In the Cinq-Cinquain, the stanza breaks are optional; but in the Crown Cinquain, they are required.

So here in summary, is the Crown Cinquain:

• a series of 5 [entire] Crapsey Cinquains, 25 lines total
• syllabic count: 2-8-6-4-2 in each stanza
• written with breaks between stanzas
• rhyme is optional
• looks good centered on the page
• last line of the previous cinquain repeated as first line of the next cinquain
• Note: The final line of the last cinquain does not have to equal the first line of the first cinquain, but it is an option.

Sample:

This sample is not mine, but came from Lawrence Eberhart, a.k.a. Lawrencealot on AllPoetry.com. I like his play on words

You Can Call Me, Darling

Once we’ve
come to know each
other and shared a meal
or drink, a wink, or even more
a kiss,

a kiss
even on the cheek,
or put each other down
in fun with social repartee
well then …

well then
you might call me
darling and I’d not flinch.
It’s a sweet affectation, beats
Hey you!

Hey you
works, and implies
perhaps you know me not
yet by name, and darling implies
much more.

Much more—
yet everyone
is your darling, even those I know
are rude and lacking very much
to like.

To like
me and call me
darling has its merits.
Do you want to call me, darling?
Call me.

Write Your Own

Now it’s time for you to write your own Cinq-Cinquain.

1. 1. Write your poem.
   2. Publish to your blog.
   3. Come back here and click the link to add your post to the linkup.
   4. Encourage your friends to join the party!
   5. Read other people’s posts and leave a comment.

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