The Lai is a very simple form comprising of 9 lines per stanza. The number of stanzas is not fixed and each stanza has its own rhyme pattern. The pattern of syllables per line is 5,5,2,5,5,2,5,5,2 and the rhyme scheme for each stanza is AABAABAAB.

In other words, all 5 syllable lines (in each individual stanza) rhyme with each other and all 2 syllable lines (in each individual stanza) rhyme with each other.

Example

Meeting
by L. Roovers

Hands stroking softly
Skin glowing faintly
Sweet cries
Lips meeting gently
Tongues searching sweetly
Soft sighs
Bodies arch strongly
Voices cry loudly
Wet dries.