Strambotto

WHAT IS A STRAMBOTTO?

A strambotto is an octave poem with hendecasyllabic lines. Also known as ottava siciliana, this style of Italian poetry has grown to become a popular style of poetry among poets all over the world. These poems were particularly popular in Renaissance Sicily and Tuscany, however the origin of the form in either region remains unknown.

FORMAT OF A STRAMBOTTO: 

Usually consisting of eight lines, strambottos have 11 syllables in each line. The rhyme scheme of a strambotto is abababab. An example of a strambotto poem is "All's Fair" by Robert Lee Brewer.

"When you run out of reasons to dance or sing,

remember tomorrow is a brand new day

and that past regrets should not mean anything

if you wish to keep living in joyful ways.

For the past is the past, and the future brings

new chances to love and to even betray

a smile or a kiss as the wedding bells ring

and all of the children continue to play."

(by Robert Lee Brewer)

Note: None of the poems we present belong to us. We present an organized record and analysis of them. All copyrights are reserved to the original author and we are not using plagiarized work. The originality of the writes is verified to the fullest extent we can.

There is also an alternate form of strambotto, consisting of six lines instead of eight with 11 syllables per line. The rhyme scheme for this version is ababab. 

TIPS FOR WRITING A STRAMBOTTO:

1. Following the correct structure of the poem
2. Writing a rough draft of the poem while keeping the theme of the poem in mind.
3. Editing the rough draft in order to fulfil the requirement of 11 syllables per line.
4. Following the specific rhyme scheme.

Due to its basic structure, the strambotto has grown to become an extremely popular style of poetry. So, without any further ado, lift up your pens and start penning.

Cheers!

-Japman Aneja (member of team PoeTree FoRest)