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Mosaic Musings...interactive poetry reviews _ Poetry Education -> Karnak Crossing _ Roundel

Posted by: JustDaniel Jun 15 18, 15:38

A Roundel (not to be confused with the rondel) is a form of verse used in English language poetry devised by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909). It is the Anglo-Norman form corresponding to the French rondeau. It makes use of refrains, repeated according to a certain stylized pattern.

A roundel consists of nine lines each having the same number of syllables, plus a refrain after the third line and after the last line. The refrain must be identical with the beginning of the first line: it may be a half-line, and rhymes with the second line. It has three stanzas and its rhyme scheme is as follows: A B A R ; B A B ; A B A R ; where R is the refrain.

Swinburne had published a book A Century of Roundels, dedicating his poems to friend Christina Rossetti, who then started writing roundels herself, as evidenced by the following examples from her anthology of poetry: Wife to Husband; A Better Resurrection; A Life's Parallels; Today for me; It is finished; From Metastasio

Swinburne’s first roundel:

The roundel:

A roundel is wrought as a ring or a starbright sphere, A
With craft of delight and with cunning of sound unsought, B
That the heart of the hearer may smile if to pleasure his ear A
A roundel is wrought. R

Its jewel of music is carven of all or of aught - B
Love, laughter, or mourning - remembrance of rapture or fear - A
That fancy may fashion to hang in the ear of thought. B

As a bird's quick song runs round, and the hearts in us hear A
Pause answer to pause, and again the same strain caught, B
So moves the device whence, round as a pearl or tear, A
A roundel is wrought. R

Swinburne’s poem "A baby's death" contains seven roundels. The fourth roundel became the song "Roundel: The little eyes that never knew Light," set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar.

Posted by: JustDaniel Jun 15 18, 15:39


If I Were Thin

If I were thin, I'd walk once more
without this walker or chagrin
and it would not be such a chore
if I were thin.

My eyes are dull, and even when
they sometimes briefly can explore
ere long the clouds descend again.

The days are gone when I could pour
over the pages; it's akin
to dying, so might it restore
if I were thin?

© MLee Dickens’son 15 June 2018

Posted by: Larry Jun 17 18, 10:30

Perhaps

Perhaps I’ll try the Roundel form
and all its rules I must apply
but doubt if it will ever charm.
Perhaps I’ll try

to emulate Swinburne with my
effort. It won’t do any harm
to have a go. My alibi

will be that it is not my norm
to be repetitive so I
will wait for the impending storm;
perhaps I’ll try.

Posted by: JustDaniel Jun 17 18, 23:23

Quite Well

You did quite well, my fellow swan,
and left behind a wondrous trail.
consid'ring what you've swum upon
you did quite well.

No reason you should e'er bewail
that river someone named Avon.
Fall short of Will? That's not to fail,

'cause you'll direct with your baton.
You see, you ever will prevail
for all will say who're looking on,
"You did quite well!"

Posted by: Larry Jun 18 18, 23:01

Hope

There now is hope, I’ve passed the test
but won’t applaud my meager scope
for toes are damp in wavelet’s crest.
There now is hope, I’ve passed the test

of this new form so I can cope.
I doubt the first will be my best
and I’ll improve if given rope.

I’ll thank you Daniel and attest
without you I might be a dope
but with your guiding hand, I’m blessed.
There now is hope.

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