Spanish in origin, the QUINTILLA is a five-line stanza with eight-syllable lines and one of four rhyme schemes: a-b-a-b-a, a-b-b-a-b, a-b-a-a-b or a-a-b-b-a.


Example by Jan Haag:

QUINTILLA I

Without tension and without stress
beneath the covers, warm, secure
lies woman ready to confess,
her thoughts mellow, her thoughts quiet pure
fingering eternity's egress.

I'll not use it, nor abuse it.
Kittens I'll have but no children.
I condone the longing to quit:
having slept in peace, practiced zen,
enjoyed the whirling of world wit.