Last night, at Island Writers, we were discussing rhyme schemes in poetry.

For those who aren’t familiar with these, a rhyme scheme is a pattern of rhyming sounds at the ends of the lines in a poem. For quick reference, we give each different sound a letter.

For example, an AABCCB rhyme scheme would look like this:

Little Miss Muffet                A
Sat on a tuffet                   A
Eating her curds and whey         B
There came a big spider           C
Who sat down beside 'er           C
And frightened Miss Muffet away   B

Anyway, the conversation reminded me that, last week, Jonathan challenged me to write a poem about decadence, using words that rhyme with ‘light’.

(I know, right? Other husbands bring flowers…)

Here is my decadent response:

CHOCOLATE CAKE
by Emily Gillatt-Ball

It's just a little decadence
Which fills me with delight
I don't concern myself with pence
To make each day feel bright
In my pursuit of excellence
It has become a rite
To spark my powers of eloquence
I need a touch of opulence
With dark sensations so intense
They get me through the night


It's just a little decadence
And yet it feels so right
At first I felt some diffidence
Excuses felt so trite
One can't refuse without offence
It's best to be polite
But soon I gained more confidence
Regardless of the true expense
I seemed to feel my common sense
Recede with every bite


It’s just a little decadence
Which caused my sorry plight
I always hide the evidence
And clear it out of sight
But greed demands its recompense
The way I feared it might
I can't continue this pretence
For now my bottom is immense
I know, but in my own defence
I find it helps me write!

So, what are your decadent writing practices? Feel free to respond in verse!