On Poetic Notation

When describing forms and structure, it's important that we're all speaking the same language, so here are some of the universal ways that poetry rules may be written.

Rhyme: rhyme schemes are usually represented by letters of the alphabet -- each time the letter changes, it means a new rhyme (at the end of the line unless otherwise specified) is introduced.

Syllables: each syllable is represented by an x -- in the rhymed forms the syllable on which the rhyme falls is signified by the letter of the rhyme. For example, a simple 4 syllable verse with alternating rhyme would look like:

x x x a
x x x b
x x x a
x x x b

Repeating lines: In a repeating form it is necessary to distinguish the repeating lines from those of the same rhyme -- this is usually done by using capital letters for the repeaters. For example, a rondelet would look like this:

x x x A
x x x x x x x b
x x x A
x x x x x x x a
x x x x x x x b
x x x x x x x b
x x x A

The repeating lines are marked by A, which rhyme with the small-a line, whereas the b-lines are a different rhyme.

Stanzas:
2 lines per stanza = couplet
3 lines = tercet
4 lines = quatrain
5 lines = quintet
6 lines = sestet
7 lines = septet
8 lines = octet

There are stanzas longer than eight lines, of course, but you get the idea.