Than-Bauk
Than-Bauk is a traditional Burmese poetic form, known for its conciseness and clever use of rhyme and wordplay. It consists of just three lines, with each line containing four syllables. What sets Than-Bauk apart is its unique rhyme structure: the rhyme falls on the last syllable of the first line, the third syllable of the second line, and the second syllable of the third line.
The Than-Bauk, including its rhyme sound, ends up looking as follows:
aaaB
aaBa
aBaa
The ‘B’ represents the sole rhyme sound of the poem, while ‘a’ represents an unrhymed syllable.
Inside
The sky is blue
if in view but
no hue inside.
Also known as Myanmar poetry, here is a westernized version that uses eight syllables per line and an internal rhyme scheme that links each line to the next.
The Sky is Blue
The sky is blue beyond the trees,
If hues renew beneath the breeze,
the view breaks through across the seas.
Quick Note: The second version is not a Than-Baul Poem, but an inspired version that was just imagined.

Leave a comment