ASIAN SONNET

We are beholden to Eleanor Berry, a past president of National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS), for these definitions and examples of the specific format.   

In September, 1963, Dr. Yuzon and some Filipino poets met, organized, and founded UPLI. On this great occasion, he wrote the following Asian Sonnet which he invented, rhymed a-b-a-a-b, c-d-c-c-d, e-f-e-f, published in its official organ “Laurel Leaves”, Autumn issue, September 30, 1977.

ASIAN SONNET

On the foundation of UPLI

Objective: World Brotherhood and Peace Through Poetry

At Hotel Filipinas years ago,

In 1963, though only few.

We founded what today the poets know

As UPLI -Laureates with their spreading glow

To make world peace a golden dream come true.

With voice triumphant like the lark at morn

We dared with lyric songs the curse of wars;

Through Laurel Leaves we blew the battle horn;

Though Poets Congresses are manger born;

We shall never stop reaching for the stars.

For , sermons on the mount we shall deliver

And give mankind a ladder to the skies

Until such time when poetry can ever

Redeem from hatred our lost Paradise.

Eleanor comments that the "Asian sonnet" doesn't appear to have caught on outside of UPLI. She found for us another example, this one on the Moontown Cafe website. The poem is preceded by a description of the form, as follows:

This is an unusual form made up of  two cinquain stanzas and a quatrain. The rhyme scheme is  abaab, cdccd, efef. The description of the structure said the first stanza had to be either a pastoral scene or make use of pastoral imagery. 

Blossoming

So young and supple, like a flower.
As subtle as a blushing rose.
This bud that brightens by the hour
And blooms so sweetly from the dour,
Will gently deepen as it grows.

A lass that fruits to modern maiden,
Alas, is vined on heaven''s grace
And though such picks are yet forbidden,
The loveliest of angels laden,
Is cherished o''er the tender trace.

A yearning heart is sorely tempted
To sweep aside the barren truth;
When age and wisdom are preempted
By blossoming of vibrant youth.

By sailboat On 12/22/2011 1:50:27 PM

She concludes:  "If the form has been used to any extent, I certainly hope there are better examples! But the above is what Google turned up when I searched for Asian sonnet (in quotes, so the search was for the whole phrase, not just for the individual words).  Hope this helps. Eleanor."


florencebruce@att.net