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> Virilai / Virilay
JustDaniel
post May 12 13, 15:43
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Real Name: Daniel J Ricketts, Sr.
Writer of: Poetry
Referred By:Lori



Virelay is the English version of the French word, virelai. It is a form from the French of the 11th & 12th centuries.

There are at least four versions: the virelai, the virelai nouveau, the virelay ancien, and what might be called a virelai-ballad.

The form has a myriad of definitions, ranging from those of the original to the newest version. But like most poetic forms, they each have their own endearing qualities. Take for example the virelay that by one definition is closely related to the ballad.

Virelays are mostly written in tercets that rhyme aab,bbc.

But some modern virelay could be written in stanzas or lines of indeterminate length and number. Some examples: aab bbcbbc ccd ddadda, or, a2a2b6, or a8a8b4. The only true requirement is that the last rhyme of any stanza (or tercet) becomes the same rhyme for the first line of the next, and that typically from stanza to stanza the lines that differ in rhyme also differ in length. Therefore in quatrains it would become a8b6a8b6, b8c6b8c6, c8d6c8d6, in cinquains it would become a8a8b6a8b6, or a8b6a8b6b6,...and so on, where the numbers represent the number of syllables per line. the values could be switched, shortened or lengthened. There are some virelays that make the tercet the standard by making the rhyme scheme aabaab, bbcbbc, etc., and some have very short lines between 2 and 6 syllables long.

You might say that there is just so much information about the virelay, that it can confuse you. But here are a few links, to get you started:

The definitions here refer to older resources and provide English examples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virelai"]Virilai

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virelai_ancien

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virelai_nouveau

Here is a newer version, which could be called virelai-ballad:
http://www.poeticbyway.com/gl-uv.html#virelay
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virelay


Here is the only one that I can find that I have written, even though I think I'd written more that were lost when I had a computer melt-down!


essaie virelai1

Perhaps one might say
that to write virelai
is a bit
d'une tâche compliqué,2
for it is a buffet,
but don't quit...

for at first, if you sit
just a while to permit
your old brain
to retool and refit
then you'll stir up your wit;
don't complain.

Without pain there's no gain,
(Do I hear an Amen! ?
Shout it out!)

You will not go insane
and will soon ascertain
without doubt

that you can.  Don't go pout,
'cause, you'll figure it out;
it will pay.
There will not be a drought
on your parchment; you'll spout
doux verset.3

© MLee Dickens'son 21 Nov 2008
virelai simple ancien



1 = trying virelai
2 = a complicated task
3 = sweet verse


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Merlin
post May 12 13, 16:35
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From: Time, Immoral
Member No.: 66
Writer of: Poetry



I'm sure you've gotten all the info available. Looking at my notes, there is the Nouveau & Ancien, and the virelay itself. I know I've never attempted one, having sufficient other forms to tinker around in. There are times when one language doesn't work in another, and here is a time element also. The lai was used centuries ago...

Let's do Spanish instead!



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