The Madness of Love

A Bird Called Love

Writer's Cramp: The Englyn Unodl Union
The following is written by Bianca:

The Englyn Unodl Union is one of the eight Englyn forms, a poetry form that finds its origin in Wales.
The Englyn Unodl Union is a straight one-rhymed englyn.

There is one thing that we have to learn first, before we can start writing this form. This is called: gair cyrch.
A gair cyrch is a structure that can appear in different places within the Englyn forms. In this specific form, the gair cyrch forms the first line of the Englyn Unodl Union.

What is the structure? (The asterisk stands for a syllable)
* * * * * * A * * * (10 syllables, the 7th syllable is important for the rhyme of the poem)

The position of the A-rhyme in the first line can vary; it will be the seventh, eighth, or ninth syllable. The syllables after the A-rhyme are the gair cyrch.

The Englyn Unodl Union uses:
gair cyrch
* * * * * *A (6 syllables - A rhyme)
* * * * * * *A (7 syllables - A rhyme)
* * * * * * *A (7 syllables - A rhyme)

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A Bird Called Love Whose Wings Took Her Astray

Once I found a darling bird in moonlight
Who called without a word.
Our eyes met. Within me stirred
A melody I’d never heard.

So I carried the starling to my house,
Cupped in hand like a ring.
Close to my side all that spring,
Her charm tied me in heartstring.

But after the rains of May she flew off.
Night’s moonlight now shines gray,
And flowers in full display
Have no voice throughout my day.



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