Write a wreath using this 17th century poem as inspiration. You do not have to stick to the rhyme and meter that our Mr. Herbert employs. Just use the idea he puts forth to write something wreathlike. See how he starts each new line using something from the line above?
A Wreath
A wreathed garland of deserved praise,
Of praise deserved, unto thee I give,
I give to thee, who knowest all my wayes,
My crooked winding wayes, wherein I live,
Wherein I die, not live : for life is straight,
Straight as a line, and ever tends to thee,
To thee, who art more farre above deceit,
Then deceit seems above simplicitie.
Give me simplicitie, that I may live,
So live and like, that I may know thy wayes,
Know them and practise them : then shall I give
For this poore wreath, give thee a crown of praise.
George Herbert
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/8363-George-Herbert-A-Wreath
Here is a fun example by azure85, who keeps a list of her wreaths on her page:
Tiki Cat
Tiki cat sitting in the shade,
Shadows of birds fly to the ground,
Groundless reason to make a trade,
Trader of dreams Tiki will hound,
Hound dog through the picket fence,
Fencing claws Tiki proudly shows,
Show-off cat pricks that dog so dense,
Denser puffs up that canine nose,
Noisy purr of Tiki cat claim,
Claimant dog snarls at this display,
Displayed teeth is that pooch’s game,
Gamely Tiki just struts away.
© Susan Sanchez-Barnett
http://allpoetry.com/poem/2935392
See how azure85 has fun turning shade at the end of the first line into shadows at the beginning of the second, and so on? She has also inventively used homophones in her wreaths to humorous effect. See her list for such examples as "The Wilted Wreath" and "Joy-Oh Boy!"
Here is a wonderful example by maa. Her wreath employs blank verse in iambic pentameter:
The Wrath Wreath
Wild flames of wrath she spat upon my soul
With soulless anger was her speech adorned
Adorned with self-defensive strategies
Her strategy was war, her battle pride
For pride has brought her to this battle-field
A battle-field her mind was, there’s no doubt
I doubtfully responded to her cry
This war-cry that still echoes in my head
From head to stomach did her voice descend
Descending into cavern of despair
Despair that reigns within my shattered heart
The heartless world is just reflected truth
A truthful mirror of our inner state
I state that all my body starts to shake
The shaken walls of ego’s proud abode
Abide no more in safety’s false belief
Believing that the enemy’s outside
Outside I’ve fought my battle until now
But now that grace has sent me wrathful words
My words in humble silence shall dissolve …
© Marion Mantel
http://allpoetry.com/poem/2751014
This is the wreath I was inspired to write after first seeing one that MargaretG had written citing Herbert's example above. (Regrettably Margaret's is no longer available.)
Should Hesitation Rule?
A sleepy garden have I planted in the haze
The haze that might be lifting should we dare
Dare to share our sympathies as thirsting
Thirsting for that spark has brought us near
Nearer to our heart, that core of feeling
A feeling that should banish hesitation
Should hesitation rule each other's art
© Marcy Jarvis
http://allpoetry.com/contest/2343292
So have fun weaving a wreath of your own, be it rhyming or freely woven, and remember this outstanding metaphysical poet, George Herbert. For more on the life of George Herbert, see his page at Oldpoetry.
Write a wreath using this 17th century poem by the Welsh poet George Herbert as inspiration.
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1 - 42 of 42
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The Wreath and the Vaughanet
I'm now teaching the class on how to write both the "wreath" and the "Vaughanet" (rhymes with sonnet) which both evolved out of my interest in the Metaphysical poetry movement and two (of its seven) poets, George Herbert and Henry Vaughan. Go here for the class.
These two poets were unusual in the Metaphysical movement in that Vaughan read and was influenced by Herbert, whereas the other poets, like Donne, were not associated with each other, but had in common a love of style and wit.
The subsequent grouping together of these poets came later in history; the class briefly explores this, as well. And all for a little blue trophy.
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long complex setences were always my bane in freshman english
the weath helps break these down -
Thanks for writing this informative column. It explained everything that I could have wanted to know about how to write one.
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I was just observing how setenenses seem to run on in poetry
each added detail havivg a detail itself -
I tried this last week, it was really fun and challenging. I'll be trying it again. Thanks for posting this
K
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Thank you, Kris. I'm delighted to see what a good turnout you are getting for your wreathed sonnet contest and am linking it here for future reference. http://allpoetry.com/contest/2450969
It's wonderful to see how the wreath, as a form, is taking hold and growing here at AP for it is truly an AP/OP original.
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ooh, this wreathing technique sounds fascinating. . .
I'm going to have to try it myself. ..so glad to have found this column, though - I don't know a whole lot about it. . . 
Ea, you are to be greatly thanked for posting such a helpful piece. . . Elinor
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I've heard this technique
in a few songs. it sounds really neat. -
Wrote this a few months ago...just did it for fun, but didn't realize that the form was actually called a wreath.
Note to Self:
Read that which will inspire you to Write
Write even when you feel you won't Inspire
Inspire more than just shallow breaths of wasted Time
Time yourself only on tasks that should End
End tasks that do not make you Grow
Grow love even in places that inspire Hate
Hate only that which inspires not Love
Love in a way that makes your heart Grow
Grow even when you are at the End
End the tasks that steal away your Time
Time and time again, aim to Inspire
Inspire in all your attempts to Write
Write even though no one might ever Read.
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it ends up on the first word, too, completing the wreath effect very nicely.
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Just wanted to say - I like your 'Note to Self," poet. . .especially the final line - 'Write even though no one might ever Read.' It's well done Elinor
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Thanks! I appreciate it
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Herbert wrote verse in Latin as well as sonnets & the like. He went out of fashion somewhat in the 18th century & modern criticism tends to note the subtlety of his poems rather than their apparent simplicity. I am not sure just how influenced he was by cywydd or Welsh forms in general. Most of these tend to be short odes in rhyming couplets alternating between accented & un-accented. These forms may be in part descended from bardd teulu but it is difficult to say. There have always been problems with stylistic rules in a lot of classical Welsh poetry. You have to realise that Brythonic languages have very different grammar & syntax from Germanic languages. I am not sure that there are any real precedents for the wreath in Welsh poetry & it may in fact be unique to Herbert.
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Iechyd da! Diolch o galon.
My sense is that this was a novelty piece for Herbert; the image of a wreath was summoned as the object he wanted to present on the page and that drove its construction. -
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That sounds very plausible. If you are interested, this is the Welsh (Cymraeg ) alphabet:
A, B ,C ,Ch, D, Dd, E, F, Ff, G, Ng, H, I, L
Ll, M, N, O, P, Ph, R, Rh, S, T, Th, U, W, Y
There is no J, K, Q, V, X or Z usually, excepting in borrowed Germanic words.
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Good for you. If there's a precedent for this in Welsh poetry, I'd like to know about it.
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Well, in as much as Herbert was Welsh I guess there's a "precedent in Welsh poetry".
I am told that there is a Welsh-language precedent, if only in the way some forms reach for a rhyme or an alliteration early in a following line. I wonder if that is the effect that GH was aiming for? I don't know. I know very little about Welsh poetry. -
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Anything using this idea to write a sonnet in the old Welsh way might better be termed a "Welsh sonnet." I agree that it is a lovely form and innovative in its own way.
The "wreath," as a form, (based on Herbert's "A Wreath") originated here at AP through a contest given in 2007 http://allpoetry.com/contest/2343292 and employs repeating words, not rhyme or alliteration, which may or may not be unique to Welsh poetry or poetry in general.
The wreath is specifically calling for word repetition, as demonstrated by Herbert, who read and wrote in English & Latin, not Welsh.
The two wreathed sonnets you have posted to date are, of course, "wreaths", and excellent examples, at that. To thee, who art more farre above deceit, thank you for the innovation of applying the wreath to the sonnet form.
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Thanks for that accolade. I think I have written three wreathed sonnets. It just seems to work.
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I have been reading through your examples and I know so little of the "proper" terminology for poems and I see words that mean almost nothing to me. I just write what I like myself and when I read other peoples work I tend to like what makes me "feel" something, with no conscious thought to what type of poem it may be. I do like this idea though of leading off with the last word from the line above. I will attempt to try it. This has been very informative, thank you for taking the time to share. Sheila
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I am going to have to try this Thanks for posting the column.
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Wreath Of Roses with eahen
A morning artist is approached by lady,
lady with plucked rose
in a rose garden with peahens,
peahen on her arm she stares
stares from the requested morning canvas,
this canvas by evening shows moonlight
moonlit sea, green dress, red cape
caped lady shadowed face a look she flings
flings too a dead peacock over her shoulder
shoulder she swings and leaves with flourish,
flourishes the brush
brush soaked in crazy peacock blues,
blue sea background the garden-park
park lit by the moon
harvest moon painted in cloud reclines
reclining artist in cushion of cloud smiles
smiles like a cheshire-cat
cat stalks amongst bushes the peahens
peahen stands upon rose banded discarded hat
hat in the dew left by the Venus
Venus shows herself naked and full
full under the draped weight of the sky
sky dawns to reveal a morning artist.
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Thank you for drawing this to our attention, Marcy. Here are links to my two poems which incorporate aspects of a "wreath":
http://allpoetry.com/poem/4675375
http://allpoetry.com/poem/4675328
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Thank you, Mairi. I am very glad to have these wonderful examples you provide linked here for future reference.
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I do love this idea and the circling of thought. I am off to capture another Yankee Candle and run a ring around my thought.
GREAT presentation here my friend. Thank you for this column. I hope more folk stop by to read and write.
~Pamela 
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Great form I'll try it.
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This is the first time I am being introduced to this form.
It is interesting.
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Ah.. this also reminds me of renga.
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This is cool..
I like how the words flow into the next line. Thanks for this informative column with experimental poems. I might test it, but I won't guarantee I'll enter it. 
But I do find this form intriguing.
It reminds me of a "speech" I heard on a soap some years back. The same technique of picking a word from the line before was used to continue the next.
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Thank you for this write. It was very informative. I don't think I have ever heard of this poet. Thanks for sharing this
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Do you have a contest
Do you have a contest set up for this wonderful column? If so, please give the page and contest number. -
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I have now put up a contest encouraging people to write a "wreath":
http://allpoetry.com/contest/show/2423539 Hope to see you there.
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Well this is just fun...
I think I'll give it a try, though free verse and lyrics are my specialty, I suppose I should work on form as well^_^ -
First time I have heard of this form of poetry - always learning something new on this site. Thanks for this informative column.
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another link to a wreath
for my friend Ea.
http://allpoetry.com/poem/4462551
it is a form that I enjoy, and am highly thankfull of being taught its way. -
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Thanks, Tirrel. I think this piece you link to is quite innovative and spare, and I hope others will have a look at it.
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The wreath is pretty cool, and I like seeing these differing examples and using just portions of the previous words, this lends itself well to shaking up the wreath. Thanks for this informative column, and do let us know when there is another competition involving the wreath.
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Very interesting. Great column, I want to have a closer look at the wreath as a form now.
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How inspiring and fun! I shall try this myself when I am myself again...I am just recovering from a 2 day migraine so still a little under the weather
but I cannot wait for the challenge! Thank s, eaand maa!
Lynda
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Very nice column on wreaths, they are so much fun to write. Maa's is so elegant, and your wreath uses the twists and turns the beginning and ending words, to inner reflection.
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By wreath, you mean "dedication". Am I right? I seem to have problems understanding things on here, just lately. Well, I screwed up just once so maybe that's not so bad. And after all, it's just a wedsite. Lighten up, jjj.
Sorry to unburden myself. I love the Herbert piece and remember some pieces of his from school. ("The Pulley" was one, I think.) The Wreath is new to me.
I guess everyone makes mistakes. It's not as if I were running for VP of the USA. Twould take some doing anyway since I'm a Canadian.
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