Lai

A lai is a short French syllabic poem built from nine lines and two rhymes. In its common modern English form, the rhyme pattern is aabaabaab. The lines carrying the a rhyme have five syllables, while the lines carrying the b rhyme have two syllables. The short b lines create a quick turn, echo, or drop in the poem’s sound.

A lai often feels compressed, musical, and tightly patterned. Because the lines are short, every word must work. The form may be narrative, lyrical, comic, romantic, devotional, reflective, or descriptive. It can tell a tiny story, catch a single mood, or turn around one sharp image.

A lai often includes: nine lines, two rhymes, the rhyme pattern aabaabaab, five syllables in the a lines, two syllables in the b lines, and a compact movement of thought or image. The poem should not feel padded. The short lines make weak words obvious.

To write a lai, first choose two rhyme sounds. The a rhyme must carry most of the poem, so choose a rhyme with enough useful words. Second, draft nine lines following the pattern aabaabaab. Third, count the syllables. Lines one, two, four, five, seven, and eight should have five syllables. Lines three, six, and nine should have two syllables. Fourth, revise for music and sense. The b lines should feel like small hinges, not leftovers.

After Rain

I see what I have seen,
into mist I lean,
rain—bright.
The old stones, moss green,
and roots push between
soft light.
What sorrow has been
Returns to me clean,
clear sight.

“After Rain” follows the lai form by using nine lines and the rhyme pattern aabaabaab. The a lines use five syllables, while the b lines use two syllables. The poem is compressed and image-driven, using the short lines to create a delicate rain-washed scene. A lai may be written as a single nine-line poem or as a sequence of nine-line stanzas. A stricter lai keeps the syllable count and rhyme exact. A looser WoPoLian lai may allow slant rhyme or slight syllable variation, but the short-line pattern should remain recognizable. The lai is a traditional French form, not an author-created WoPoLi form, though a WoPoLian may create variations by changing the subject, tone, or strictness of the rhyme.