Let It Be You

The zejel is a very old Spanish poetic form that is also likely an even older Arabic poetic form with an origination date somewhere between the ninth and eleventh centuries. In fact, Edward Hirsch believes the form was probably invented by Mucaddam ben Muafa, a ninth century Hispano-Muslim poet.

Here are the basic rules for zejel:

First stanza is a tercet (3-line stanza) with an AAA rhyme scheme All other stanzas are quatrains (4-line stanzas) with a XXXA rhyme scheme, so the second stanza would be BBBA, third CCCA, fourth DDDA, and so on to the end of the poem. Lines are usually 8 syllables long.

Alternate version: The version above is from Robin Skelton, but Hirsch offers an alternate version that begins with a couplet rhymed AA, followed by the BBBA, CCCA, etc. Also, Hirsch's version makes the repeating A line a refrain from the opening couplet that could be shorter than the other lines (sort of like in a rondeau). Writers Digest, Robert Lee Brewer

My attempt at Zejel using both versions:

another round of poetry

to find out what there is to see

why didn't I just let it be

~

just one trip through the alphabet

couldn't I do that once and yet

I did it as I made a bet

Oh no I could be moving free

~

how about one a month to write

that won't work as that is not right

it would take too long what a fright

zejel is the last z for me

~

Alternate version:

oh let it be, let it be you

making it way too long my Boo

~

how many poems in the z

two are in this category

you make this story short hehe

oh let it be you

~

it is tough to make this z short

would be faster to make a fort

and maybe we need some support

let it be you

~