Poetic Terms Dictionary
Poetic Form

Glosa

From Spanish: gloss or commentary. A 14th–15th-century Castilian court form; each borrowed line is received as authoritative text to be elaborated.

Definition

A Spanish form in which a short introductory poem (cabeza) is elaborated stanza by stanza, each ending with one of its lines.

Example

P.K. Page's English glosas borrow lines from other poets and spin extended meditations upon them.

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