Whittled Words – Rondel Poem
~~~
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:
~~~
RONDEL POEM
~~~
Rondel is a French poetic form composed of 13 lines in 3 stanzas. It incorporates refrains:
- 13-line poem
- 3 stanzas (4 lines, 4 lines, 5 lines respectively)
- Rhyme scheme ABba/abAB/abbaA
- Usually 8 syllables per line
A slight variation and you would be writing a Rondel Prime (or Supreme) which adds a 14th line which completes the refrain in the final stanza for an ABba/abAB/abbaAB rhyme scheme.
~~~
Examples of Rondel Poems:
~~~
I REMEMBER
by Julie e.
When I miss you I remember
sandwiches from the coffee shop,
fingers cold I let mine drop
in the park in late December.
Noses, cheeks glow, bright red embers
laughing, giggling, we couldn’t stop
When I miss you I remember
sandwiches from the coffee shop.
Gone the sun of past September
gone the freedom of my flip-flops
comes the chill as temperature drops.
Warmth I felt in that December
when I miss you, I remember.
~~~
STARRY NIGHT
(Rondel Prime)
by tjholt
When stars sprinkle fairy dust flies
and dreamers dreams hang on the moon.
Collect all your hopes; string a festoon;
celebrate before the night dies.
Remember we are but mayflies
and the time to dream ends to soon.
When stars sprinkle fairy dust flies
and dreamers dreams hang on the moon.
Do not wait tomorrow’s sunrise
or think your wishes only jejune,
for dithering is only for a loon;
life imparts no one a reprise.
When stars sprinkle fairy dust flies
and dreamers dreams hang on the moon.
~~~
LIFE SONG
By Brad Osborne
The joy of life sung in my tune
I am blessed without want for more
A greater than fair share for sure
When every night holds fair a moon
Myriad stars to make you swoon
Breath to blow at the sky so pure
The joy of life sung in my tune
I am blessed without want for more
Bring to me but one more bright noon
Let this song and mere verse endure
That’s what each breath taken is for
Before life’s air leaves lungs to soon
The joy of life sung in my tune
~~~
PHOTOGRAPH
(Rondel Prime)
By Brad Osborne
This still life captured beneath glass
Holds not the memories of you
Colors in life now tinted blue
The world missing a bit of sass
Good life and love gone by too fast
Your smile missing from seeking view
This still life captured beneath glass
Holds not the memories of you
No mirror this or favored past
If only that could be made true
To see you again without hue
This memory in flat plate cast
This still life captured beneath glass
Holds not the memories of you
~~~
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 Rondel poem. Thanks for reading!
~~~
commonsensiblyspeaking 
I love the rondel form, and love the line, ‘the joy of life sung in my tune.’
I love this form too, Beth! Thank you!
I love the same line as Beth and “I am blessed without want for more.” I enjoy learning new forms! Happy Friday! 💛🤗🥰😘
Thanks, Karla! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Much love to you! 😘💖😍
You’re welcome, Brad! Thank you! You too! Love and hugs right back! 🥰🤗😘
A lovely example of this very nice form!
Thank you, my friend! Have a great weekend!
You’re very welcome my friend, you too!
“The joy of life sung in my tune..” Great line. well done.
Thank you, Joy!
You are welcome, Brad 😊
this is a pleasing form, and you must like it if you gave us two!
while a picture is not the same as the real thing, I think a picture can trigger a pleasant memory…
You know me, Jim. Had to include the variations or it would feel incomplete. A photo captures everything about a moment. It can cause us to recall images, sounds, smells, emotions. Helpful for a species whose memory declines with age.
I wonder if any other animals have their memory decline as they age? If so, we should start giving them cameras…
Brad, you are so prolific without losing quality. I know you must work at it but it seems to come so easy.
Sometimes it is easy, but usually it comes with a good bit of work. Thank you, Geoff!