ABA Poetry

ABA rhyme scheme poems follow a three-line pattern where the first and third lines rhyme, while the second does not. This structure is common in tercets and forms like the villanelle. The alternating rhyme creates rhythm, contrast, and emphasis, often used in lyrical, reflective, or meditative poetry.

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Antarctica

by Derek Mahon

‘Antarctica’ by Derek Mahon is a poem that takes a look at the events of Captain Oates’ self-sacrifice in Antarctica.

The ABA rhyme scheme (with a final ABAA at the end) in Mahon’s villanelle mirrors the tension between order and emotional chaos. Its tight structure contrasts with the bleakness of Oates’s death, highlighting the restraint and dignity of his sacrifice. The repetition reinforces his quiet heroism, while the rhyme gives tragic inevitability to each step into the snow.

‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’

The others nod, pretending not to know.

At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.

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Antarctica

by Derek Mahon

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