A Quatern is a sixteen line French form of poetry. The poem is composed of four quatrains (four-line stanzas). A Quatern has a refrain (repeated line) that is in a different place in each quatrain. It is in the first line of stanza one and then drops down one line in each subsequent quatrain. The poetic form has eight syllables per line. It does not have to follow a set rhyme scheme or use a classic meter, but very often will have both.
Line 1 -
The refrain
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
Line 5
Line 6 -
The refrain
Line 7
Line 8
Line 9
Line 10
Line 11 -
The refrain
Line 12
Line 13
Line 14
Line 15
Line 16 -
The refrain
Here is our example:
Message In A Bottle
The tide carried the note to shore
Secret words from a time before
In a bottle sent long ago
For a love she did not yet know
With the sun reaching the sea floor
The tide carried the note to shore
Glass glinting in the rays of sun
Note inside meant for a loved one
Glistening he saw from the beach
But the bottle still out of reach
The tide carried the note to shore
He did know what the contents bore
Heart pounding he raced to the sea
‘My love, I still remember thee’
Secret words to be read once more
The tide carried the note to shore.
Quatern Poetry from some of our contributors:
Quatern
Camilla King (12)
Caress the pattern, smooth the crease,
follow the routine, keep the peace.
The parts laid out, the tale begun,
contenders enter, one by one.
Perturbed by lingering unease,
caress the pattern, smooth the crease.
I strum a song to clear my head,
and ponder the words left unsaid.
Light approaching and light behind,
bad intentions the light shall bind.
Caress the pattern, smooth the crease.
the light will come, the pain will cease.
Dawn beckons, warriors obey,
‘Lose the quarrel, but win the day.’
Ignore the past with blissful ease.
Caress the pattern, smooth the crease.
The Silence
Judith Kerr (16)
When you’re alone in the silence,
With enough time to make some sense
Of this one-chance life that you lead
And what it is from it you need.
That’s when you hear heart-rending cries;
When you’re alone in the silence,
It’s deep inside of your soul,
What it says, that only you know.
You think over the road you’ve went,
If you’re in the right direction,
When you’re alone in the silence
You realise your obsession.
You’ve chased the wind, wealth and success,
Although you’ve found no fulfilment,
A voice, ‘Come and I’ll give you rest,’
When you’re alone in the silence.
Cruel Race
Anisah Chowdhury (12)
I looked up to the cloudless sky,
and I breathed out a heavy sigh,
I felt the wind blow in my face,
I was ready for the cruel race.
The cold wind blew dirt in my eye,
I looked up to the cloudless sky,
I prayed that I would not be last,
I knew that I’d have to run fast.
The whistle blew - I had to go,
I remember from long ago,
I looked up to the cloudless sky,
and I saw the birds flying high.
I wished that I could fly up there,
Swishing through the cold frosty air,
But I knew that I must say bye,
I looked up to the cloudless sky.
Quatern
Jessica Clarke (17)
A single tear rolls down my cheek
I hear the names, a loser, geek
Tearing of hair, punches and kicks
All the lies, the taunts and the tricks
Closing my eyes, tragic and meek
A single tear rolls down my cheek
No escape ’til home in my room
At last I find solace in gloom
To find a book I scan the shelves
To find stories that tell themselves
A single tear rolls down my cheek
I read about the life I seek
The world in books, my second life
Turn the pages, happiness rife
Close the book, and my life seems bleak
A single tear rolls down my cheek.
For more poetry and writing workshops, why not subscribe to Wordsmith below for only £16.00. Free Wordsmith pen with your first issue. 
