Learning How to Write Poetic Couplets

A short and sweet poetic style

What is a cuplet?

A couplet is two lines of poetry that usually rhyme and are roughly the same length. They convey one thought, sometimes from opposing views.

Shakespeare often used rhyming couplets at the end of scenes in his plays. This one from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is a well-known couplet.

“Good night! Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”

One of America’s great poets, Robert Frost, wrote many poems using couplets. Here’s a short video of Frost reading his poetry in 1962.

And my couplet

Sweet child, why is your countenance so forlorn when your presence is brighter than any dawn?

If you’re new to writing poetry, give couplets a try and leave one in the comments.