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2011 Poetry Form Challenge#01 Ballad Stanza |
A ballad has many variations of rhyme and line length. The basic Ballad Stanza consists of four lines with an alternating couplet and lines that
alternate from four iambic feet to three. This gives a suggested pattern of:
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Ballad Stanza Challenge Replies
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Divena CollinsA Lady fair in past times of old In Ancient days of Knights, Deep in love in a bards rose bed In the castle grounds yon night Her lover was her bold brave knight Such was a bonny young lad , And her being a lady of substance Loved him with all she had. Romance lay deep amidst the roses, With nobody else around, Where he did court her so avidly True love was to be found. She was promised to him this night `Twas he had won her hand Soon they shall both be together. All they had ever planned. In days of old when knights were bold And Ladies were in favour Was much the same as it is today But all the pains were labour. Came her knight hitherto this night To bear no ills of grace. No other love shall she easily give Only he could set the pace.  ----- Dreamsoflove When love in your eyes meet mine It is then that I know Just how much your love means to me `Tis then I love you so. When you hold my hand within yours I feel your gentle touch When you thrill me so with desire I yearn to love you much. When you whisper within my ears Of your sweet love divine It`s then I shall melt in your arms Then, your love will be mine. When you press your lips upon mine Kissing with compassion Then when my resistance is low I shall love with passion . If only these dreams could come true And stars can give a sign. Maybe we could share these dreams Your love shall then be mine.  ----- The Fiddlers Song In days gone by a handsome lad Strolled down a worn foot path There he met a pretty milk maid Leading her cow and a calf. Fiddle dee diddle. fiddle I do Oh diddle dum diddle I dee I sing songs for pretty milk maids If you`ll stroll along with me. I`m off to market sir she said With my fattened cow and calf To swap them for a stable boy Prodding the cow with her staff. Fiddle dee diddle. fiddle I do Oh diddle dum diddle I reap If I could be your stable boy Your wares you can but keep. Thank ye kind sir she did say I trust your honest with me You may kiss me on the cheek To show that we both agree. Then in time we could get wed And you shall bed with me To save space I`m thinking of Ah, thoughtful lad was he Fiddle dee diddle, fiddle I do They both sang out with glee But he being wily in his ways Pretty dum diddled was she.  ----- Final Disaster Hail, thunder, snow, with winds of time Send them forth at thy will So violent the storm from the ocean Before this World stands still. Let volcanos erupt molten magna Smouldering deep inside Dense acrid fumes shall polute the air Theres no place life can hide. Earth shall crumble, quiver and quake Whenever the end is nigh Our beautiful World devoid of life No answers to tell us why. Enjoy what we have while it`s still here The rain, the snowclad ground Look and see what life has to offer While we are all still around.  ----- George And The Dragon The dragons breath of fire arose George drew out his sword He thrust it towards the dragon A Lady was his reward. Now George was not a brave man Fickle to think he was But this Lady he needed badly And so his sword he draws. But truth be known dragon was old Blown the last of his fire For George our hero young and bold Had felt that he could sire. So off he went to claim his prize This lady to be his wife But when he saw what he had won Gave dragon a kiss of life.  ----- Gypsy Vanner Stallion The wind plays with thy silken mane Teasing thy senses wild While spirits rise within thy soul Leaving my heart beguiled. Frolicking playfully within thy fold Amidst thy pastures green Reveals strength, beauty and grace While nature rules serene. Thy velvet nose rests upon my palm To welcome my caress So gentle, yet a tower of strength For me you do impress. Oh Gypsy horse of long past days So obedient and so grand Age old beauty bred to endure The finest in the land. ----- House For Sale The wind had battered the moors A house stood empty and old. No one lived there for many a year It stood there bleak and cold. A sign that swayed to and fro Blew in the wind by a gate This sign had read House For Sale Eighteen hundred and eight. No one had dared to visit this house A haunting took place inside The lady in white was said to walk In wedding attire as bride. In years gone by, a handsome Lord Wed a comely lady renowned This was to be their dwelling place No better home was found. Tragedy struck on their wedding night Their beautiful home all aglow Had caught alight by tallow candle In the drawing room below. It was the bride that sadly perished On that cold and windy night Her groom tried in vain to save her Alas he had lost the fight. Years gone by the house was rebuilt Ghost in search of her Groom, Sadness was felt with tear filled eyes She haunts all of the rooms. Still she is calling out his name Through howling wind hail As she harkens all she sees is A rusty sign `House For Sale.`  ----- In Praise Of Thee In praise of thee thy love divine For thou art truly my lover And deep within my beating heart I know there is no other I wouldst but say I love thee dear And ne-er would I impart For tears of joy within mine eyes Are shed betwixt two hearts So warm thy kiss endowed by thee Thy loving arms entwine So soft those touches thy bestow To cherish love as thine. I praise of thee thy love divine For thou art truly my lover And deep within my beating heart I know there is no other.  ----- Love in the Mall Jumbled voices in the background Yet I only hear your voice Distant laughter seems so far away I dream of you by choice. There are crowds in the shopping mall And yet I only see you Within feelings of contentment Dreams of love came true. I Feel your touch, you are not there It`s just my imagination I know with all my heart and soul You bestow this sensation. I need you here close beside me Before this dream does fail Within our fantasies of elation A sweet lovers faerie tale.  ----- Love and Music Words of love we cannot express Music shall ne-er be silent Sweet songs of love can feed the soul Silence would be a torment. To feel good music you then feel love That cannot e`er be broken Words appear from the heart within Songs of love are spoken. If actions grow stronger than words When lovers crave romance Soft musical notes played together Whispers of sensual dance.  ----- Nearness of You Nearness may not be a distance Whether apart or so near Within lovers dreams together Fantasy remains sincere. Recalling summer time meadows While winter snow still lays Of the days they spent with each other Beneath the warm suns rays. In their dreams they were so close Though they were far apart Spirits and soul had been before Deep in two loving hearts. Shall it be when the snow shall melt When winter ice disappears And the sun shall warm a cold ground Then shall love flourish near.  ----- Spiritual Love She looked out of the window pane Her lover he had gone The snow it had almost melted She was cold and forlorn. The branches now bare upon the trees No birds were there in sight She longed for the warmth he gave When he loved her last night. He held her close within his arms As she lay upon his chest Where kisses softly they bestowed Together they were bless`d. No greater love could be achieved For both had felt the same Two loving hearts that beat as one Shall smoulder like a flame. Dreams of passion shall always remain For they can never be apart As the warmth they bring each other Is etched within their heart.  ----- Stuff and Non Sense I hitched them up on the moors. Sometimes nearby the sea Very often in green country fields Hitched up for all to see. I just liked to feel so secure Hitched them up real good, So they wouldnt fall back down If not I knew they would. There`s many a time I did suffer Thro` cold and pouring rain And although I am in distress I do it again and again. You ask what on earth is she doing Whatever is next you agree The answer is just plain and simple Hitched up a tent you see.  back to list |
Heinhabits ThebreezeBehold! He comes as a cold wind, his visage, torn and stern. He does not speak, a book you'll get and from that you must learn. What wisdom holds he in his heart? And why will he not share? What secrets does he know so well, what pain does he now bear? Be not deceived! No knowledge will come from his vacant look. No parables flow from his lips. He is an empty book. ----- Come To Me Come to me now and hear my cry, those of you in plight. For consolation is my job God helps me do it right. Come wallow in your wretched state, I'll comfort you with style. And if you'll share your welfare check I'll seat you by the aisle. I'll hop a dance, forgive your sins, tell you it's not your fault. Come hear me now I know what's wrong and whom you should exalt. So worship my fine holiness, admire my profile. Bring friends and neighbors when you come my act is quite worthwhile. back to list |
Jem FarmerAs this old year begins its end we share a glass of season's drink to toast the future we intend before the final seconds sink. Embracing arms and kisses share the cup of kindness and a song the new year seen so we can dare to change the ways we feel are wrong. Inhale the smoke, a final drag indulge our greed before we slim the oaths we resolutely tag in drunken haze and Rabbie's hymn. To all my friends come share a dram and let me wish you a bright year a whiskey or tequila slam to start the new with hope and cheer. ----- Echoes of Emily What hides behind a closet door-- while life has passed me by-- the truth of love I could not see when all I said was why. The closet door, so firmly closed-- and nothing left on show-- the will to leave this misery if only I knew how. I flung the door open at last-- at last, I set me free-- the truth revealed within my heart it’s okay, to be me. ----- Fading into Dusk Across the seas, so far away, where dreams of love combine with tears my heart must face another day and calm the dread of hidden fears. For love has sailed across the blue, to still the rage in distant land, while I remain to dream of you until once more you hold my hand. The sun is fading into dusk and you are here within my heart upon the air the river's musk for love like ours can never part.  ----- Halfway I am somewhere between the end and where it all began the halfway point, around the bend, I’ll get there when I can. I’m neither lost nor am I found without a map to guide the journey to predestined ground thankful the path is wide. A beautiful girl to catch my eye I feel a sudden shove should I linger or go on by, is destiny in love? ----- A Humblebum An old guitar that strummed your songs my voice that sang your words today are silent replaced by tears as I think of night birds. The lyrics soothed my aching heart when life was dealing pain. you gave me strength to live my dreams and dance in pouring rain. A humblebum, a man of song with such a gentle growl. Again I play the chords and sing forever a Night Owl. ----- Kiss of Destiny A whisper on the morning breeze to take my breath away a love that brings me to my knees as I awake each day. One touch to show the love divine, the love of you and me, a dream that’s caught in poet’s line yet stays forever free. One kiss, your kiss, is all it took to say that I belong my heart became an open book at last its sings love’s song. ----- Knit One Purl The clicking needles replaced by whoosh as wool loops interlock the rapid growing fabric - swoosh the pattern in punched blocks. No knit one purl to rib a cuff the endless counting past but really I have had enough the joy in craft is lost. To set a pattern into its place and feel the wool in hand no machine can ever replace the craft a knitter’s planned. ----- Philly Chicken The green flecked white slivers inside ensnared by tenderness, the thin draped German shawl beside she is set to impress. Her succulent flesh softly wraps around a fondant dream and tender warmth entraps- a fusion dressed in cream. Aromas beckon desire’s flame to rest in smoky haze, so gently yielding just the same upon the leafy maze. ----- Precious Dreams Our potential lies deep inside, a force of energy, and dreams of life and love confide to be what we want to be. Each day we get closer to it, take steps to precious dreams even if it’s a little bit the joy bursts from its seams. When times are hard, we can get there by chasing the dream held true with gleeful shouts that say ‘Oh Yeah’ as we do what we do. ----- Rose in the Night In darkness where she lays, a rosebud waits love’s kiss, the gentle touch, her desire, that brings her passion’s bliss. In darkness where she lays, the early morning dew kissed her scented petals and sparked her sensual hue. In darkness where she lays, a fragrance fills the room her love a part of me my rose in vibrant bloom. ----- The Sweetest Kiss To say the names of girls I kissed would be a sad affair and breaks many a promise ‘tis neither here nor there. But where to kiss her lips and such when love is your desire; just take her hand and gently touch the embers of her fire. The passion kiss is a precious thing when shared in love’s sight, a stranger’s kiss can make you sing on a cold lonely night. But most off all, there is one kiss the way a kiss should be the sweetest kiss, and it is this the kiss you gave to me. ----- The Unknown Road When walking down the unknown road towards the setting sun each step should ease the heavy load as destiny is done. A footstep is a random chance to choose the way ahead as through this life we dance to our heavenly bed. I hope my choice each day is right and brings me to my rest as I walk into her loving light-- she knows I did my best.  back to list |
Nia WynneOh the winters come cold and long, Though pretty snowflakes drift In and out of a heart that's blue Yet yearns for loves pure gift. For the beauty of a snow storm Supersedes all bluster, Cancels out the frigid frosts, Becomes dawns new luster.  back to list |
Ryter RoethicleShe could not wear a dress of blue Instead she picked the black For blue was the colour of his eyes And he wasn't coming back. He'd left that day in bitter rage Swearing as he rushed out Driving down the soaking road Wheels sliding on his route. On the freeway no thought or care His madness drove him on His visions blurred by tears of rage His wife, his love was gone. Thinking of days not so long ago Times spent in each others arms Of loving days and loving ways And ways that loving warms. His foot lifted of the madness pad Slowly sanity returned And as he reached a turning point Homewards the car he turned. She lay in tears upon the bed Thinking of cruel words spoken Of spite and hurt no thought just said Regretting no peaceful token "Regret!" Too late she thought As tears poured from her eyes She did not hear him come to her She looked up in surprise He took her in his tender arms Kissing her tears away And through her tears she heard him say, "No work for me today." She did not wear a dress at all Just something flimsy and red And the two, lovers made their peace Upon their loving bed. ----- Cavite Adventure There was movement in the jam Word had passed around The Jeepney's up front had got away My driver was off 'thout a sound In a flash were o'er the other side Steaming past t'others as if still Any one way street, was ignored I sat, not worried, twas a thrill. The enforcers put the lights on red Stopping our screaming steed We dared not cross that junction, It was too dangerous a deed. Traffic off the freeway blocked the way All the vans were gathered And were fuming, cursing at the fact Waiting, and then they fled. Lights turned green, Mario led the pack Our bus sped down the road. No quarter asked, and none was gi'en One dared not break the code. In time we left the burbs and were alone Shanties now were all we saw. The factory buildings now came in view Mario had driven without a flaw.  ----- Death of a Lovesong I can not be, and can not feel, I lost the thing that mattered. You broke my heart so easily Handing it back shattered. I can not see, I can not hear And feel what I longed to hold Hope fell to the ground so bitterly A whispered silence now so bold. My life is dark and so quiet now Almost feeling like the grave. Now a darker love as deaf as death Is that release that I crave. Within this tomb of dark despair The tears have ceased to flow Nothing left here but ash and dust With barren love, naught can grow. You broke my heart to many times I know things don't last too long. Sunk into disrepair and beyond hope I no longer hear love's song  ----- Je ne regrette rien I don't regret my life or weep Like smoke from a chimney Autumn's cold has me in her grip Young again I shall ne'r be My heart now feels Septembers chill Not beating as once it did The stairways banister no more tempts As in the spring I slid. Wandering ways grow less and less You stir my lips aflame. I've lost freshness of passions eye I love you just the same. Oh life do my desires grow tame, Is life a useless deed, When in springs echoing early hours Galloped on winged steed. We're all mortal, watching silently Trees spill leaves of copper. May you be blessed for evermore Till death's final offer.  ----- The Old Man The old man stood at the bar lost Holding a glass of wine. Dreaming of happy times in the past When life and love was fine. And in his mind and in his thoughts He went back to other days. Seeing in his mind his one true love Remembering her lovin' ways. As he stood there at the bar drinking Lost in his memories past A young man walked up to him And offered him a glass. You look down in the dumps" he said " Can I buy you a drink?" Looking the old man smiled "Thank you, But its not what you think". Sitting on his stool he had a drink And his tale began to tell Of his new found life, his new found love A tale we know so well. I met this lass of just twenty six And married her last week So far our happiness is really great More than any man dare seek. Each morn at dawn she wakes me up By making love to me After breakfast we again make love And have such revelry. Our loving lasts all through afternoon With such sexy sport and play And only the Sandman calls the tune To end each blessed day. The young man hung his head in shame "There is no help I can give". "Yes there is" the old man said "Please help, I've forgotten where I live"  ----- The Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry |
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