Ovillejo

The Ovillejo is a somewhat complicated Spanish form, dating back to the 1600s. It consists of ten lines – three rhyming couplets and a quatrain written as a redondilla. There is also a strict syllable count.

The first line of each couplet is eight syllables long, and presents a question. The second line is three or four syllables, and presents an answer or an echo.

The first three lines of the quatrain have eight syllables, summarizing the couplets, while the final line consists of the repetition of lines two, four, and six. But wait! That’s not all. The first line of the quatrain rhymes with the last couplet, and the next two lines of the quatrain rhyme with each other.

Got it? Maybe this will make it a little easier:

x x x x x x x a
x x x a

x x x x x x x b
x x x b

x x x x x x x c
x x x c

x x x x x x x c
x x x x x x x d
x x x x x x x d
line 2, line 4, line 6

This was actually an interesting form to work in. The question and answer. Once I got my head wrapped around the question/answer thing, I found the long/short lines had an interesting rhythm. And I really liked the way the last line wrapped it all up.


Searching For Answers

Where have all of the answers gone;
conclusions drawn.

How many questions left unasked;
intrigue unmasked.

Who is keeping the answers true;
they have no clue.

I have questions with answers due,
I seek the truth, it eludes me.
The truth is meant to set us free.
Conclusions drawn. Intrigue unmasked. They have no clue.