Whittled Words – Rondel Poem

Posted by Brad Osborne on February 10, 2023 · 6 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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RONDEL POEM

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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 14^th line which completes the refrain in the final stanza for an ABba/abAB/abbaAB rhyme scheme.

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Examples of Rondel Poems:

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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 Rondel poem. Thanks for reading!

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