Dabali Shairi and Magalia Shairi Poems

Dabali Shairi and Magalia Shairi are poems originating from Eurasian Georgia around the 12^th century. They have a minimum of 4 lines, but they can be any length as long as it is a multiple of 4. Each line is strictly 16 syllables in English versions. Each form is explained in more detail below.  Sometimes called Rustavelian Quatrains after Shota Rustaveli, the poet who wrote The Knight in the Panther's Skin, Georgia's national epic, these poems or Shairi come in two forms, Dabali or low form and Magalia or high form. Rustaveli alternated these two forms in his epic poem over 1500 quatrains long. Yes, you read that right, over 6000 lines. These forms are difficult in English; however, they are great exercises.

In the Dabali (low) Shairi the 16 syllables in each line are 5, 3 - 5, 3. There is a caesura or pause in between the first and second 5, 3 syllables count. The entire quatrain in mono rhymed and the final 3 syllables count in each line should be a triple rhyme. The triple rhymed syllables are difficult but not impossible; however, modern poets will reduce this to a double or single rhyme to avoid making the poem feel forced. The strict diagram would look like the following:

Traditional Triple Rhymed

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (abc)

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (abc)

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (abc)

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (abc)

Modern Unforced Single Rhymed            Modern Unforced Double Rhymed

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xxa)                              xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xab)

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xxa)                              xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xab)

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xxa)                              xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xab)

xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xxa)                              xxxxx, xxx  -  xxxxx, (xab)

In the Magalia (high) Shairi the 16 syllables in each line are 4, 4 - 4, 4. There is a caesura or pause in between the first and second 4, 4 syllables count. The entire quatrain in mono rhymed and the final 4 syllables count in each line should end in a double rhyme; however, modern poets will reduce this to a single rhyme to avoid making the poem feel forced. The strict diagram would look like the following:

Traditional Double Rhymed                        Modern Unforced Single Rhymed

xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(ab)                             xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(xa)

xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(ab)                             xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(xa)

xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(ab)                             xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(xa)

xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(ab)                             xxxx, xxxx  -  xxxx, xx(xa)

As with all poetry forms, feel free to experiment. Even in some traditional Shairi, poets have used 15 instead of 16 syllable lines. In the following example, I try the Dabali (low) Shairi, but I use the double rhyme instead of the triple; however, for fun I used it before the caesura as well as the end. I then use a Magalia (high) Shairi for my next stanza.   

Example: by Frank G. Poe, Jr.

Blue Bird Over Tunisia

Dictator ruling, completely, - King’s entitlements, perverted

Ice cream brought by jet, discretely, - Wikileaks email, exerted

Blue Twitter Bird Tweets, so sweetly, - Thus deadly snipers, averted

King flees power shifts, and neatly, - To common people, reverted

Poor Julian’s, reputation, - And now on trial, he is going

For top secret, revelations? -  No, for a condom not growing

Accidental, rape? Frustration - Assange’s defense, should be showing

What next black cats? Superstitions? - To keep us in, dark unknowing