A Ottava Rima is a poem written in 8-line octives. Each line is of a 10 or 11 syllable count in the following rhyme:
one octive poem. abababcc
two octive poem. abababcc, dededeff
three octive poem. abababcc, dededeff, ghghghii
…so on and so on
the shopping mall is busy as usual
people shopping, having coffee, meeting friends
people carrying back packs, bags and bundles
and they’re getting ready for the weekend
there’s a ballerina and she’s blushful
a public performance she wish they suspend
biting at her lips, restless and rocking
to herself under her breath she’s talking
“we will be fine,” her friends assuring her
unable to get comfortable, she smiles
lots of questions she wants to know the answer
is her hard work and practices all worthwhile?
what if they don’t like her? as she gets calmer
how she wish time would speed up meanwhile
and so the show must go on, people clapping
she’s so happy and in the air floating
(c) ladyleemanila 2016
ladyleemanila 