A quinzaine is a type of unrhymed poetry with 15 syllables distributed over three lines, usually asking a question. It originated in France and can have either two separate questions or one longer question in the last two lines.
A quinzaine is similar to a haiku in that both types of poetry are usually unrhymed and contain a certain number of syllables. Fortnight’s poems always contain 15 syllables, distributed in decreasing numbers over three lines. The usual form has seven syllables in the first line, five in the second and three in the last. For this reason it is also called a 7/5/3 poem. Unlike haiku, which usually make statements, quinzaine poems almost always ask a question. The first line makes a specific statement and the other two challenge that statement with a question or two.
The word quinzaine comes from the French word quinze, meaning 15. It is not clear where or how this form of poetry began, but the poem’s name suggests that it was popular in France. Many poets use this form of poetry to ask provocative or esoteric questions. For example, an esoteric verse might read as follows: “I’m a capable girl/Are you capable?/Do you know that?” The first line of the poem makes a concrete statement about the girl. The last two lines question this claim, but don’t necessarily suggest that the girl is wrong. Rather, these lines are meant to question what capable means and what the definition of girl might be.
A more provocative quinzaine might read as follows: “Soldiers march with fortitude/Are they brave soldiers?/Are they men?” Again, the poem does not necessarily question the integrity of the soldiers themselves, but the situation in which they find themselves. Soldiers march with fortitude, either because they’ve been drafted or because they believe this is the right thing to do. Questions ask whether these men are brave, questioning the meaning of the word. The last line refers to the fact that, in history, many soldiers have been little more than teenagers and in ancient wars there were also women dressed as men to be able to fight.
There are two basic variations in the structure of a quinzaina. Some poets believe that the last two lines should each ask a separate question. Others believe these lines may be a slightly longer question. Both forms appear to be correct, and the one a poet chooses is often largely based on preference and purpose. The quinzane examples in the preceding paragraphs are both examples of the last two lines asking separate questions. You might notice that both questions look similar, but focus on two separate aspects of the first statement. This is typical of a quinzaine.
An example of a quinzaine containing a single question might look like this: “The summer sun is setting tonight./Will the crickets sing/chirp and play?” The last two lines of this poem are enjambed, meaning the end of the second line is actually half a sentence. Poets addressing this form often use several names in their questions to infuse meaning into them.
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