THE DRAIGNECH FAMILY
ABAB.
Draignech means 'blackthorn', because it's a bit spiky.
You can have from 9 to 13 syllables in each line, and there's
no need to have the same
number of syllables in all lines -- but every line must end with
a three-syllable word.
In dán díreach, every stressed word has rhyme, consonance
and alliteration with
some word in another line, except (often) the 1st stressed word
of odd lines.
In bruilingheacht or oglachas, the form is easier!
Draignech was the form assigned to bards of the status lúatha
or cromlútha.
From an elegy for Farbhlaidh, a dog belonging to Mairghreag, daughter
of Conn.
The two ranns show the variety allowed by draignech.
Bu-fheasd tlachtmhara ag Mairghréig na minfheadhna
gur bh' infheadhma ón bhfailmghéig, nír dhaltadha
gan beaghumhla;
is uime do bhí 'n-a hucht go hoireaghdha
gur bhuime oileamhna í dá lucht leanamhna.
...
ó inghin Chuinn are gcraodh oirnidhe
do thaodh oirdhire nír thuill a timdhibhe
dí gan fhios do bhí bás Farbhlaidhe
cás as amhghaire nár tí d'fhios na hinghine.
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Established 1996. Updated 2/12/00.
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