NaPoWriMo 2013, Day #08 – The Louis Prima Ottava Rima

The prompt for Day 08 was:

“Because it’s the 8th, I thought we might try writing in ottava rima — an Italian form that, in English, usually takes the form of an eight-line stanza of iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-a-b-c-c. The most famous poem in English that uses the ottava rima form is probably Byron’s Don Juan. If you haven’t read it, it’s wickedly funny! It’s really amazing how contemporary Byron’s language is — it’s like he’s your mean-girl friend just gossiping at you in verse. But unlike Byron, you don’t have to write an entire epic in ottava rima! Just eight lines will do for now. Happy writing!”

Here goes. It’s a bit odd.

The Louis Prima Ottava Rima

Prima’s the King of the Swingers, you know,
and also the jungle’s own V.I.P.
He asked for fire. I had to tell him, “No!
Fire is danger, please listen to me.”
He got upset and said I had to go.
He went and climbed to the top of his tree.
I shouted, “What else could I oobee do?!
King Louie, I don’t wanna be like you!”