A Sonnet on Sonneteering.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 September 1901, Page 944

A Sonnet on Sonneteering.

A Sonnet is composed of head and tail, In fourteen lines, the first the octave named, Consisting of two quatrains neatly framed Through both of which the same two rhymes prevail, Arranged like this ; nor must the metre fail ; Five feet iambic for each line are claimed ; Neglect these precepts and the work is lamed ; This form is fixed — none other will avail.

This is the sestet. In the best, three rhymes Re-circle in two tercets same as here, With measure as in octave. Thus arrayed Your numbers ring the sonnet's silver chimes. Take heart, ye rhymers, for the sonneteer, Unlike the poet, is not born bat made. Macander