Whittled Words – Madrigal Poem

Posted by Brad Osborne on January 28, 2022 · 14 Comments 

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Welcome to the weekly series, Whittled Words. A series highlighting the innumerable types and styles of poetry to challenge any creative wordsmith. This week’s selection:

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MADRIGAL

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The madrigal originated as an Italian form, as a pastoral song. The Italian madrigal is written in lines of either seven or 11 syllables and is comprised of two or three tercets, followed by one or two rhyming couplets. Just as variable as the lines and line lengths is the rhyme scheme. In fact, there’s so much variability that I am going to focus more on the “English” madrigal.

For the English-version of the madrigal (developed by Geoffrey Chaucer), the rules are much more defined.

Here they are:

Usually written in iambic pentameter.

Comprised of three stanzas: a tercet, quatrain, and sestet.

All three of the lines in the opening tercet are refrains.

The poem follows this rhyme pattern:

Line 1: A
Line 2: B1
Line 3: B2

Line 4: a
Line 5: b
Line 6: A
Line 7: B1

Line 8: a
Line 9: b
Line 10: b
Line 11: A
Line 12: B1
Line 13: B2

Note: As with many poetic forms, the madrigal has taken on a life of its own and artistic license has evolved it into anything resembling a lyrical song. Many examples can be found that meet few or no form requirements as the original form in either Italian or English.

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Examples of Madrigal Poems:

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WHAT I SHOULD HAVE TOLD MY DAUGHTER

By Lawrencealot

Remember Suzy, lovely dreams come true
so dream of love and settle not for less.
Be not so anxious for that first caress.

The kind of man you get depends on you.
A fallen apple does not much impress.
Be patient dear, for lovely dreams come true.
So dream of love and settle not for less.

The pressing, selfish man you must eschew
though urges will be strong, I shall confess.
Your prince will come and you’ll not have to guess.
You need not rush, for lovely dreams come true.
So dream of love and settle not for less.
Be not so anxious for that first caress.

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LIFE IN REVERSE

By Cona Adams

My journey’s ending where it first began,

a clownish act reversed in backward mode,

as brain cells scramble forth to read the code.

Perhaps I need a comprehensive scan

before diminished cells embrace implode.

My journey’s ending where it first began,

a clownish act reversed in backward mode.

I search to find a worthy rescue plan

my baby steps lead up and down the road

so often saddled with another’s load.

My journey’s ending where it first began,

a clownish act reversed in backward mode,

as brain cells scramble forth to read the code.

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TRUEST LOVE

 

By Brad Osborne

 

The truest love can never really die

It lives on, loves on for eternity

The bedrock for all of humanity

In its absence we may want to ask why

When it has disappeared from what we see

The truest love can never really die

It lives on, loves on for eternity

Though love may hide from a long searching eye

If it is sought with a voracity

The harder to find is the given free

The truest love can never really die

It lives on, loves on for eternity

The bedrock for all of humanity

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I hope you have enjoyed this entry to the series, Whittled Words. I look forward to your comments, and if you dare, maybe share your own Madrigal poem. Thanks for reading!

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