The etymology of rhyme by Abdul T Alishtari at All poetry

The etymology of rhyme

God, upon classic times
Greeks taught Latins sublime
entertainment was mainly rhyme
guaranteeing a raucous time.

Without TV or clowns
if not one tongue
droll evenings were found
using witticisms deftly wrung.

Words like knives fought
many articulate pundits brought
sometimes so excellently wrought
fatal attention from courts.

Kings, queens, courtiers flits
nobles were no fools
filling society with wit
lords studied rhetorical schools.

Disraeli and Winston Churchill
were known to thrill
many a dinner's bill
dissecting intrigue's bitter pill.

In the antebellum South
rhyming guaranteed invitations out

a droll acerbic mouth
indicated a noble snout.

Ressurecting rhyme's golden age,
gangsters call rhyme rap

now again the rage
brilliant and not crap

Even in bar's head
roasts one and all

graffiti written vulgarly said
scrawled inelegantly upon stalls.

Contemporary poets so rehearsed
impyling rhyming a curse

sometimes favor free verse
is rhyme artistically worse.

Egyptians, Greeks, Latin minds
all recited elegant rhymes

Muslims, Jews prosaically sublime
as scholars socially inclined.

by Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari

Author notes

Rhyming is like sex
used well, it blesses
at first it vexes
in application wonderful messes.

I believe in using peaceful means if possible in stopping all scams, slavery and abuse of children and women today.

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Comments

1 - 19 of 19

By me, right now

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dream5111
January 20, 2007

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"Egyptians, Greeks, Latin minds
all recited elegant rhymes

Muslims, Jews prosaically sublime
as scholars socially inclined" is a great ending. wonderful write
Legend
January 5, 2007

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There are those who think that rhyme
is an utter waste of time
Believing they who write this way
aren't serious, and only play
At writing sing song poetry
that real poets hate to see

You will hear them proudly state
such poetry is out of date
That free form is the way to go
they're poet, so they ought to know
Don’t listen for they lack the skill
to write in rhyme, and always will

As those who write in rhyme have found
their poetry depends on sound
Each written word must find it’s mate
one to which it can relate
Where melodies flows sweet and true
a far more harder thing to do

So heed not to the ones who say
that writing rhyme has had its day
Continue to do what is best
Poetry that’s stood the test
You’ll never change the way they think
That rhyming is a waste of ink

Keep with the rhyme You have done an excellent job with this one A most enjoyable read Thank you
tanzanite
January 5, 2007

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This was a wonderful rhyming piece on the virtues of rhyme. Wonderfully done. The history of rhyme perfectly described.
Chailyn
January 5, 2007

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Rhyme when used properly is great and witty, problem is niot many people know how to use rhyme properly. I vrty much enjoyed your piece.
Climbing2nothing
January 4, 2007
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so becomes the powered wave a rhyme can make the greatest his slave an thus join in union the gathered thought in holy communion a fight against a masters nigh so thy hieght is much and well respected!
gasolinequeen
January 4, 2007
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I had fun reading this it was very clever. Well done! You are very talented!
Iohagh
January 4, 2007

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Uncle I like this so much
Darling

That you teach rhyme
in ways that fly
is itself no crime
but makes me cry.

Smoosh

Janet
paperparadox
January 4, 2007

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Yeay! Rhymes Rule!
Long live the great rhyme, I say . Having read the other comments, I couldn't agree more when one person said that in order to rhyme, the writer has to THINK!

I see you had your thinking cap on when you sat down to pen this, Sir! Thank you so much for voicing what many of us think and feel. Bravo to you.
This is a great piece, fit to be celebrated by rhymers everywhere.

LONG LIVE THE RHYME!! Whoo Hoo!
freespirit51
October 1, 2006
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Cute little work you have here. Very enjoyable read.
Sandwich Massacre
December 11, 2005
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if rhyme manifested itself into a physical being, we'd give it a nobel prize and this would be the speech in honor of this being.
Abdul T Alishtari
December 8, 2005
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Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
I hereby announce the great poet tanzanite is by order of the paramount Prince of Ishtari of the Berber tribe of Amazigh AP Online is by decree and acceptance thereto made a sister and member of the family of Amazigh. Hear one. Hear All. Amen. That should do it. I'll let people know and later when we get our own group we'll be organized. Ciao. Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
tanzanite
December 8, 2005
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Yes this is great. A very eloquent rhyming play. I loved this a lot - I think this is one of my favorites by you. So yes, I accept the invite my friend - I would like to be a sister ... if that is okay?
Abdul T Alishtari
December 5, 2005
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Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
I was drooling droll
sucking on milk bottle
like a toy doll
its diaper leaks full.

LOL

Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
Abdul T Alishtari
December 4, 2005
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Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
My lady I assure
to your melancholy cure
only sweet words pure
that matches your allure.

Gentlemen were taught speech
heights of intellectual peaks
to make evenings reach
and politics didn't reek.

Perhaps yesteryear's dandies fade
some were romantically brave
yet their words pervade
to our history saved.

Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
HeartTangles
December 3, 2005
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Many people say they do not like rhyme when actually, they have to think in order to rhyme. They wants to spill out the emotions with no order. Could be why they have the emotions for they have no plan or organization. But many poetry that does not rhyme is beautiful with perfect measures and meters, while sending out a beautiful message.

Everyone who knows you must realize how much you are addicted to rhyme. It is like an obsession of sorts, this is not a negative statement. You could be another Dr. Seuss, but with an elegant, loving and powerful twist,... Dr. Seducer.
B Chandler
December 3, 2005
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you sir have a bucket load of wit. the rhyming to this is something all not too expected but at the same time thatll be like telling the dog go get the bone when you have it

Rae
a b s i n t h e
December 3, 2005
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Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to post that twice that was a total accident oh my I'm sorry.
Abdul T Alishtari
December 3, 2005
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Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
Love your comment Bob. I wrote another poem about rhyme and if I find it I'll send it too. I just get tired of people saying rhyming is cheap when have of remembered history is due to turning a word by a sharp wit that was easily remembered because it fit.

Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari
a b s i n t h e
December 3, 2005
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But rhyming is like love
It can be unrequited
Or hated by those above

And rhyming is like hate
Because when one rhymes
It is like a bait

Yet rhyming is like wonder
When one rhymes
It's amazingly humble

Okay that last line barely rhymed but who cares? Anyway. It's a wonderful poem. The word use is wonderful. Rhyming kinda pisses me off because I can never do it fully and people are always saying "Oh no this doesn't rhyme! The last two letters are clearly different!". Yeah rhyming to me is all in the way you say something and the way it sounds. Okay sorry for the rant. I really like how you wrote it as if telling the history.. oh wait.. Sorry. It's late. I'm done. Wow. Feel free to delete this comment. Actually, please do.