Glossary of Poetic Terms

The glosa is a poetic form with Spanish origins from the 15th century. A glosa typically consists of four ten-line stanzas each with ten syllables per line. The form also contains a borrowed excerpt from another writer. The borrowed quatrain, known as the cabeza, or “head,” is presented at the beginning of the poem. Following this, each stanza expands upon one line of the cabeza while adhering to the rhyme scheme of ABBAACCDDC. As an example, see Kathleen Ossip’s “Glosa in Middle Age,” which features four lines by the Flamin’ Groovies.