What are the rules of a tercet?

Answered by Dustin Gorski

In the realm of poetry, the tercet reigns,
A form that holds its own unique domain.
Its rules and structure are what we’ll explain.

The tercet, a trio of lines standing tall,
Each line with its own syllabic call.
Eight to ten syllables, short or tall.

The rhyme scheme of a tercet is quite distinct,
With lines one and three, a rhyme they instinct.
While line two rhymes with the next tercet succinct.

A pattern emerges, like a dance in flight,
Aba, bcb, cdc, day and night,
The rhymes entwining, embracing with delight.

But let us not get lost in rhyme alone,
For the tercet’s beauty extends to tone.
Each line, a brushstroke in the poet’s zone.

To write like a human being, we must strive,
To be explicit, avoiding word contrive.
Synonyms can help, our meaning to derive.

Yet adjectives, we must use with restraint,
For too many can make a poem feel feint.
Let the nouns and verbs take center stage, unrestrained.

And in our writing, let’s be personal,
Sharing experiences that are actual.
Through storytelling, we become universal.

Paragraph headings and subtitles may aid,
Organizing thoughts, ensuring they won’t fade.
Bullet lists can clarify, offer a clear trade.

An open-ended answer we shall provide,
Avoiding conclusions, letting thoughts collide.
Leaving room for interpretation to reside.

So, dear reader, these are the rules we’ve seen,
For crafting tercets that are rich and keen.
A form that beckons, inviting us to dream.