Kara olen
Kara olen is a traditional poetic genre that has its place in Kazakh oral literature. In "kara olen" poetry feelings and moods prevail. "Kara olen" was sung by poets. The content of "kara olen" is likely to depend on the mood of the performer. He reveals the emotions of his inner soul through "kara olen".
Sh. Ualikhanov was the first scientist who expressed his opinion about kara olen. In his article "About the forms of Kazakh folk poetry he noted: "In the steppe there are now the following forms of poetry: 1. Zhyr, which is sufficiently explained by me. 2. Zhylau - a detailed song...3. Kaim - songs used at weddings, consisting of questions and answers between young men and maidens...4. Kara olen - an ordinary song, it consists of four verses containing each separate idea. 5. Olen. This form is now used by all the latest poets as for iprovision..."
In this brief description, the great Kazakh scholar clearly described the structure of the kara olen. The kara olen consists of four lines. It is also referred to as a quatrain. In Kazakh poetry, the 11-syllable poem is called "Rhyme kara olen". In it, the last word must rhyme in the first, second and fourth lines.
