Ghazals are love poems. Must be written in couplets, or stanzas of 2 lines. It has no less than 5, and no more than 15, couplets. Each couplet typically ends in a period. Each couplet should be able to stand on its own, while also being interlinked with the other couplets. Some ghazal poets argue that each couplet is its own poem. Each line must have the same number of syllables.
Every ghazal has a radeef. A radeef is a refrain repeated at the end of certain lines. This refrain often titles the poem as well. The refrain appears at the end of lines 1 and 2, and then at the end of lines 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, etc. In other words, every even-numbered line, plus the first line.
Every ghazal has a kafiya. The kafiya is a rhyming phrase that precedes every radeef. The poem cannot repeat any kafiyas, so every radeef has its own unique kafiya.
The final couplet can have a self-reference. In other words, the poet can (and usually does) refer to themselves in the final couplet. Some contemporary ghazal examples eschew this rule, but most poems have the self-reference.
Another practice Ghazal for me today:
My love is humorous, the same humor I knew growing up.
How fun it is to laugh with him and more, he fills up my cup.
~
My hubby is so bubbly, especially when the grandchildren are with us.
We laugh, play, the great-grandchildren enjoy the day, and the pup.
~
Family love is what I enjoy today and what we have now.
I am Denise Lindquist, and on this day, I will take a yup.
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Author's Note: I am not sure that I am even close. Please respond if you know. Plus, I can’t remember where I found the directions above that I used last time I attempted a ghazal.
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First published by Mercury Press on medium.com
About the Creator
Denise E Lindquist
I am married with 7 children, 28 grands, and 13 great-grandchildren. I am a culture consultant part-time. I write A Poem a Day in February for 8 years now. I wrote 4 - 50,000 word stories in NaNoWriMo. I write on Vocal/Medium daily.
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Comments (5)
This looks like a real challenge, Denise. I will have to review the guidelines and try one at some point. There are so many forms of poetry, I had no idea.
Yes these directions seemed different from the one that you posted previously, but I feel this was more detailed and accurate. Loved your poem!
Unfamiliar with this form of poetry but I do like the flow!
very lovely, I've never seen a ghazal
Good job. I never heard of this type of poem before. What a great poetry lesson.