Bridge….. a Clogyrnach

The clogyrnach (klawg-ur-NAWK’) is one of the 24 traditional Welsh poetry forms. It is a stanzaic, syllabic and rhymed form. Each stanza consists of 32 syllables and two rhymes. It can be written three different ways, in 6, 5, or 4 lines, as described below.

This is not a difficult form to craft, but if done with care it can create some amazingly beautiful works. Here are the three patterns which may be used:

(1)

x x x x x x x A

x x x x B

x x B

x x A

(2)

x x x x x x x A

x x x x B

x x B x x A

(3)

x x x x x x x A

x x x x B

x x x x B x x B x x A

Bridge

Bridge of sighs new water flowing

Beautiful scene soft and glowing

Mirrors emotions