POETIC FORMS
Of the three main classes of poetry, epic, lyric and dramatic, the lyric is the only one preserved in Bisayan in the form of popular songs. The dramatic form is found at present mainly in the translations of Tagalog and Spanish dramas, usually employed as plays on the Patron’s days in the towns.
VERSIFICATION
Rhythm and rhyme are observed in Bisayan poems.
The rhyme is not so perfect as that of the Spanish verses. Consonant words or with similar sounding endings are employed in Bisayan.
Kinds of meter. There are two kinds of meter most used in Bisayan poetry: verses of six syllables, verses of eight syllables, and verses of twelve syllables divided in two fragments of six syllables each.
Examples:
Verses of six syllables:
¿Háin ca na, punay?…
cadí na panambo,
tambo madalíay,
liaua si casbo;
basi humalayhay
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inín saquit, bido
nga asay tiónay
san casingcasing co.
Verses of eight sy11ab1es:
Acó iní sugadsugad
san bánua nga tarotánglad,
bisan cun diín italad
mabubuhi cun may palad,
Verses of twelve syllables:
Togon co sa imo,—mahal nga inógay
di ca gud padará—san damo nga sangcay;
an paglacát nime—gabay magmahinay,
nga diri hatócso,—lumiscad san látay.
Note.—The verses of twelve syllables are really verses of six, the odd verses not being rhymed.
Combinations. As seen in the preceding examples the combinations are the following:
The verses of six syllables are grouped in four verses, the even verses being rhymed.
The verses of eight syllables are grouped also in four verses all rhymed.
The verses of twelve syllables are also grouped in four rhymed verses.