Descort Poem

What has no rhyme, no rhythm, and no syllable count? If you answered the Descort (which means quarrel or discord) poetry form, you’d be right.

The Descort is believed to have been created by Garin d’Apchier, one of the French troubadours of the High Middle Ages (1100 t0 1350). It’s distinguished by its lack of consistency, which makes it the perfect poetry form for the beginner. The Descort is constantly changing, which creates an inconsistent flow. Here are a few guidelines:

There is no rhyme.
There is no syllable count.
There is no meter.
Every line should be distinctive – each line should have a different length from the one directly before it or after it.
There can be as many or as few stanzas as you wish, but they should be of different lengths too.
Despite its erratic nature, it was intended to be musical, although I’m not sure how one would set it to music.

Do not confuse the Descourt with Free Verse, or a List Poem. Its discordant nature makes it unique. It’s an interesting form to work with. My default is rhyme and rhythm and it’s strange to actively avoid it. To be perfectly honest, I like a little more discipline to my poetry – this is not going to be one of my favorite forms.


Autumn

Leaves turning
The days are getting shorter now
Nights, longer and chill

Crisp sunny days
The park is all but deserted now
My footsteps crunch
Vibrant colours begin to fade
Squirrels gather nuts

Thick woolen sweaters
Plaid blanket
Favorite pair of hiking boots
Jeans

Sitting by the fire
Steam wafting upwards from a cup of tea
A book open on my lap
Maybe pie
Pumpkin of course