Trilonnet, created by Shelley A. Cephas, is a 14-line poem made up of four three-line verses of 8 syllables (iambic tetrameter) and one rhyming couplet or four three-lined verses of 10 syllables (iambic pentameter) and one rhyming couplet.

Each 3 line verse is an unrhymed triplet. Each triplet has a rhyme scheme of abc. It is related to a sonnet in that it made up of 14 lines. There are 2 rhyme schemes for this form:

abc abc abc abc dd

or abc cba abc cba dd

This form is written in either iambic tetrameter or iambic pentameter.

Example #1:

Summer Daze

A summer chill not often felt
when sunshine is so strong and bright
in season of delight and fun.

Oppressive heat, it has been dealt
as tempers flare, burn and ignite;
dog days of summer are not done.

Each year to wonder how we’ve dwelt
with heat while waiting for the night
to end the sweltering hot sun.

So hopefully we will not melt
before fall comes and ends our plight,
a respite from the heat is won.

The summer months have slowly passed,
humidity is gone at last.


Copyright © 2007 Shelley A. Cephas

Example #2:

Fairy Light

New fairies flit in skies above
to shower joy on those below
that live in their enchanted lair.
 
They show their grace and kindly care,
protect wee people from each foe,
their fairy dust will get rid of.
  
This is one way they show their love,
these tiny fairies all aglow
with joy and happiness to share.
  
So fairies are beyond compare,
their peace they lovingly will show
in gentleness like a pure dove.
  
Forever they will live their lives
to make sure their lair always thrives.

Copyright © 2007 Shelley A. Cephas