Writing Prompt: Skeltonic Verse

Here’s how poet and editor Robert Lee Brewer defines Skeltonic Verse, sometimes Tumbling Verse:

Skeltonic verse is named after the poet John Skelton (1460-1529), who wrote short rhyming lines that just sort of go on from one rhyme to the next for however long you wish to take it. Most skeltonic poems average less than six words a line, but keeping the short rhymes moving down the page is the real key to this form.

Here is an example of Skeltonic verse from the man himself:

The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng by John Skelton (L1-L11)
Tell you I chyll,
If that ye wyll
A whyle be styll,
of a comely gyll
That dwelt on a hyll:
But she is not gryll,
For she is somewhat sage
And well worne in age;
for her visage
It would aswage
A mannes courage.

 

Examples of Skeltonic Verse in Rap

Five hundred years on, Skeltonic verse is alive and well in performance poetry and hip-hop. Here are some examples from the period of hip-hop when I was growing up.

 

You’re a back-seat queen, a elevator pro
A high-powered body makes your Levis grow
See the stories I’ve heard, they could amaze
I heard she did it on a motorcycle back in the days
So calm down freak, get a G.E.D.
That’s a General Education on Decency
One day you’ll see, and agree with me
unless you’re gonna be a freak until you’re 93
For you there’s no fee, everything is free
This is from me to you, not you to me
Every night is your night, your leather pants are tight
You try to shake your butt with all your might
I don’t really wanna dis nobody
You might think I had a little too much Bacardi
But that’s not the problem, the problem’s Yvette
How bad can a girl’s reputation get?
See she’s the kinda girl all the homeboys met
If you’re desparate ask Yvette, cuz she’ll say “Bet.”

—from “Dear Yvette” by LL Cool J [1:30-2:38]

 

Yo Kangol, I don’t think that you’re dense
Buy you went about the matter with no experience
You should know, she doesn’t need a guy like you
She needs a guy like me, with a high IQ
And she’ll take to my rap, cause my rap’s the best
The educated rapper MD will never fess
So when I met her, I wasted no time
But stuck-up Roxanne paid me no mind
She thought my name was Barry, I told her it was Gary
She said she didn’t like it so she chose to call me Barry
She said she’d love to marry, my baby she would carry
And if she had a baby, she’d name the baby Harry
Her mother’s name is Baby, which is really quite contrary
Her face is very hairy, and you can say it’s scary
So isn’t not every, her father’s a fairy
His job is secretary, in some military
He throws them to an electric camp that wasn’t voluntary
His daughter’s name is Sherry, his sons are Tom and Jerry
Jerry had the flu but it was only temporary
Back in January, or was it February?
But everytime I say this rhyme it makes me kinda weary
It’s only customary to give this commentary
Some say it’s bad, some say it’s legendary
You searchin’ all you want, try your local library
You’ll never find a rhyme like this in any dictionary
But do you know, after all that
All I received was a pat on the back
That’s what you get, it happened to me
Ain’t that right Mixmaster I-C-E

—from “Roxanne Roxanne” by UTFO [1:17-2:35]

Yes the rhythm, the rebel
Without a pause—I’m lowerin’ my level
The hard rhymer where you never been I’m in me
You want stylin’ you know it’s time again
D the enemy tellin you to hear it
They praised the music this time they play the lyrics
Some say no to the album, the show
Bum rush the sound I made a year ago
I guess you know you guess I’m just a radical
Not a sabbatical—yes, to make it critical
The only part of your body should be parting to
Panther power on the hour from the rebel to you

—from “Rebel Without a Pause” by Public Enemy [0:00-0:43]