Michael P. Garofalo began his detailed study of Quintains and Sonnets in 2021. He began composing poetry in the three "Quintain Sonnet Forms," (555, 5252, 553) which began appearing in 2021 in his online collection of Poetry, The Gushen Grove Sonnets and Bundled Up, Volume 1: Quintains, Pentastichs, and Tankas.
His invented term "Quintain Sonnet Forms," refers simply to a short sequence of quintain stanzas, with the total lines of the poem being from 15 to 13 (555, 5252, 553). 5 = quintain,pentastich, tanka, waka; 2 = a couplet; and 3 = a triplet (haiku or senryu).
The poet composer is free to write quintains with rhyme by formula, free rhyme, blank verse, free verse, or nonsensical word smithing.
Here are some notes on Mike Garofalo's quintain writing style and options.
SM8 Sonnet Model 8
Garofalo Quintain Sonnet Form First
5 2 5 2 = 14 Lines
Quintain Couplet Quintain Couplet
The Couplets are often connected thematically with each other.
Getting the Couplets to rhyme is the best target.
Mike Garofalo has authored and published online over 1,300 Quintains, and has a his own style and options for writing quintains.
Can be rhymed verse, blank verse, or free verse.
Typographically, mostly Left Justified; but with some variations in indentation, spacing, layout.
Makes free use of punctuation.
Some use of hypertext and reference links.
Some authors and Ms. Ai (AI) have suggested using fixed rhyme schemes for 5252 such as:
5 ABABB
2 CC
5 DEDEE
2 FF
Or
5 ABABA
2 CC
5 DDEED
2 FF
"The interlocking rhymes withing each quintain provide a sense of musicality and development, while the two rhyming couplets at the end of each section offer a sense of resolution. Ultimately, the structure (5252) is the defining element of this modern sonnet form. The specific rhyme scheme is left to the poet's creative interpretation. There is no single "official" rhyme scheme for Michael P. Garofalo's 5252 quintain sonnet, as he is the originator of this modern form. Poets writing in this form can adapt the rhyme scheme to fit their own needs and creative expression." - Ms. Ai
A Google drop-down Translation Menu. Read the poetry on the webpage in over 50 different languages.
Many of these Sonnets are cellphone readable with ease. However, due to the limitations on the width of the lines on a cellphone screen, these Sonnets can appear to be longer with indentations for the ending of long lines. Viewed on a larger desktop screen, with CTrl+- text adjustment, the same Quintain Sonnet can been seen as just 14 lines. Consequently, this cellphone line length limitation affects the writing style.
Examples of the Garofalo Sonnet Form 5252 in The Gushen Grove Sonnets: #1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 13, 21, 23, 32, 39, 931.
Listening to Change #931
I listened to another say
what I resisted to hear
what was alien to me
what outlined my ire
what I wanted to fight
But then I settled down
loosened my blockhead mind
Thought things over patiently,
listened more carefully,
saw matters from other sides,
respected the integrity
and sincerity of other kinds
Of thinking outside my closed boxes
Of my habits of opinions needing overhaul.
