The Duo-rhyme, a poetic form created by Mary L. Ports, is a 10 or 12-line poem, with the first two and last two lines having the same rhyme scheme, and the center of the poem (lines #3 through #8 or #10) having their own separate monorhyme scheme.

Meter: 8 beats per line, written in iambic tetrameter (4 linear feet of iambic) Rhyme Scheme: 10-line: a,a,b,b,b,b,b,b,a,a and 12-line: a,a,b,b,b,b,b,b,b,b,a,a

Example #1:

Paper Moon

A yellow, paper midnight moon,
the kind that makes young lovers swoon,
        casts moonbeams on her golden hair.
        Soft wind caresses, not to scare
        red, blushing cheeks of maiden, fair.
        A scent of lilacs fills the air.
        In magic garden - would she dare
        unleash her passions without care?
Unusual, the moan and croon
of wind and August, paper moon.

Copyright © 2007 Mary L. Ports

Example #2:

Visitation

Oh, midnight wind with whisperings,
come tease sweet fairy’s crystal wings.
        How gracefully she floats tonight
        with purple billows flowing bright.
        Dear, wistful spirit in the night,
        through starlit mist she casts her light.
        For welcomed cheek, a kiss just right
        is softly placed so that one might
        receive her blessings without fright;
        love’s beauty sought, a soul’s delight.
To realms of wonder in my dreams
I’ll float upon the songs she sings.

Copyright © 2007 Mary L. Ports

Example #3:

Beauty

"Beauty is as beauty does"


Bright beauty, in the eye of some,
will fade away, and will succumb
       to timeless-time - a constant race
       with sun and moon who keep their pace.
       Through clouded eyes and wrinkled face,
       through sagging shoulders I embrace,
       sweet soul - the body does encase.
       Long years, their toll will not erase
       and darkened fears cannot replace
       the beauty of your loving grace.
From birth to death, heart beats her drum;
life’s mystery, her song to hum.

Copyright © 2007 Mary L. Ports