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2013 Poetry Form Challenge#04 RondeauThis is a very underestimated and sometimes a very challenging poetry form. It consists of three stanzas, a quintet (5 lines), a quatrain (4 lines) and a sestet (6 lines), giving a total of 15 lines. The first phrase of the first line usually sets the refrain R it is admissible to use the whole line used as the refrain. The rhyme scheme is: R. a. a. b. b. a .... a. a. b. R. .... a. a. b. b. a. R. The meter is considered be open and the French style is not bound by a rhyming pattern and is also more of a light and buoyant even "flashy" form of poetry which uses short lines. The English style however, is much more dour and serious, even meditative and uses tetrameter or pentameter. Here is an excellent example of the English style of Rondeau. |
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In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D., 1872-1918 |
Rondeau |
Maryse AchongI lose myself in You when I Am feeling low, I won't deny It, I lay my woes at your feet And wanting them resolved ‘tout suite.’ And when I have good cause to cry I raise my voice to You on high, And as my troubles I repeat I lose myself in You. I know You are ever nearby And hear my every song and sigh; I realize I'm incomplete Unless just like that grain of wheat, I lose myself in You. ----- Ups and Downs I rise and fall and rise again, Sometimes with ease, sometimes with pain, Like a second nature to me I do it almost easily; It's something that I can't explain, And I'm not about to complain, To do so would be quite in vain, But thanks to the Powers that Be I rise and fall and rise again. Far better that than to remain Out for the count, washed down the drain, No wallowing in misery, I stand albeit shakily, And though not always right as rain, I rise and fall and rise again. back to list |
Terry ClitheroeAll things must change, it is the way Do not expect the same each day. Plan for things, but do not expect That all that's good, Fate may reject Remember, when you sow, you pay. To find true love, we all will pray Until we do, our lives are grey Pain making some too circumspect All things must change. But Fate does not have a heart of clay And has been known to turn away Or perhaps she is the architect. As two souls meet in her project The story unravels as in a play All things must change.  ----- Bloody Crows and Parrots Bloody crows and parrots listen to the buggers Bludging, fruit stealing avian flappers. They steal my fruit and then they shit When the day's o'er they boast and sit Sometimes I wish a corps of archers Would loose their shafts at the freeloaders See them fall and hear no more utters. Then you'd see me shake and frown at it Bloody crows and parrots. The other day I had to laugh at the bludgers I have new neighbours, innocent buggers Underneath her tree for just a wee bit Her Mercedes wagon was covered in shit I felt sorry for her, they are simply monsters Bloody crows and parrots.  ----- Butterfly There was no escape I'm finally free To be what I wished I could be. Beauty lasts only a short time Where I looked naught but sublime And for a while completely free. I grew like a worm that wasn't me Eating the leaves of plants and tree. For a while that became my chyme, There was no escape. Time soon put an end to my spree I was ready now for stage three. I metamorphosed with time My life cycle had finished its climb I'm now this creature of beauty, There was no escape.  ----- Droning Droning lawnmowers Have replaced spring showers And birds squabble in my trees As well as hear the hum of bees Visiting fresh new flowers Quiet voices in sunlit hours From lovers in the bowers Hidden by densest leaves Droning. Again mundane overpowers From the neighbours lawnmowers I revisit with my memories But I remember times overseas And our voices in sunlit hours Droning.  ----- Expediently Turning With the darkness, the skies close in As if searching for the heart within For in that heart it knows there's truth That daytime only knew in youth. Where does truth end and lies begin. And man soon forgot truths origin Expediently turning it to sin Till honesty only dares open its mouth With the darkness. Find truth and justice is in ruin What chance is there for any loving? It is with dawn one should renew, Remove falseness like a rotten tooth And love and hope will fresh begin With the darkness.  ----- Her Sexy Voice Her husky voice, again beckons me Across vast deserts and endless seas Her magic is only seen in her eyes My soul hears her voice inside Her absence is not meant to be. Thoughts of her invade my revelry And I long to be in another city From which I can hear her cries From her husky voice. Soon will begin a great journey Across a world and then we’ll see How love created such divine ties And the ending of all our sighs Silenced for all Eternity With her husky voice.  ----- In Brimbank Park In Brimbank Park are shades of green With hills and trees to perfect the scene I remembered how we met that time And from it grew a love so fine I passed today where we had been. A love grew that we did not mean To cause others pain, or to demean But hurt we did, and met one time In Brimbank Park. We sat and talked on a bank of green Sadly knowing what should have been I touched your face no longer mine And we drove away that final time Two lonely people left the scene In Brimbank park.  ----- Karma of a Lemon When someone says "sour", think of a lemon To some as horrible as a deadly snakes venom And yet some favour a drink of lemon or lime They're my favourite, I drink them all the time When I drink then I could just go on and on Grapefruit with me is a habit I could live on All these sour tastes, never make me solemn The addiction to these could never be a crime When someone says "sour". I might screw up my face as if a cacodemon That's a habit, there's no help I need summon. How many time must I say everything's fine In truth as a drink lemon and lime's quite divine And as a cordial drink I think of Heaven When someone says "sour".  ----- Lady Smile For Me Lady, smile for me, that I see the light Emanating, lighting even darkest night Your eyes brighten the sunniest day Driving the dourest of thoughts away. One glance would be my eternal delight. Your face becomes even more alight Moods lifting, becoming more asprite This mood makes me want to play Lady, smile for me. Yonder elfin look doth please my sight Intending more my passion to ignite Knowing that your intentions on display Have meanings words could never say And my deepest feelings you will incite Lady, smile for me.  ----- No Longer Filling the Glass The glass is broken, time stands still Sand can no longer the bottom fill I need the time to rush by fast Still it dithers and seconds last No need to rush, time I must kill. It's cruelty stands against my will Because of this, life has no thrill I'm forced to capture what has past The glass is broken. When we meet again see it overfill In a time that's less than miniscule Why is time so poorly miscast When then we pray to see at last No sand will fall and time stands still The glass is broken.  ----- The Piper at the Gates of Dawn 1. From the dawn of time he has played his part His music has reached every mind and heart And more times about how two lovers strove Often telling a tale of war, but more of love To stay as one even though many miles apart. Did today exist when fate first wrote her chart, Or care about how each would play their part, Then laid it down, a record in heaven above, From the dawn of time? Or did she just cast them wild, hoping to start A change of life, ideas, meanings to impart That life and love changes, cognoscent of Where you are and where has been your love From the dawn of time. 2. As they listen to him at break of dawn Feelings of hope revived greets the morn. The world is still, the day is new, alive As creatures from dreamy sleep contrive To best hear the pipes, and then be gone. As he plays, all creatures to him are drawn An amnesty exists twixt the lion and the fawn And all like creatures listen and survive As they listen to him at break of dawn. A ring is made on some dewy lawn Where heavens music is daily reborn There even the hardest heart must believe And contemplate on peace and love So for a time all animosity is withdrawn As they listen to him at break of dawn. 3. See the Angels gather to hear him play Each new sunrise, each new break of day Each place, each hour a brand new morn He is there for all, with each new dawn. See every Angel, to his own God pray. The Angels meet each morn this way, The piper moves west each hour all day In each new place, seeing each new dawn See the Angels gather to hear him play. There is no rest for him, he cannot stay One rapturous melody then on his way To where angels wait and thus adorn All manner of things, not just a lawn There as the sun rises to greet the day See the Angels gather to hear him play.  ----- Raindrops Drip! Drip! Drip! Rains' droplets fall. Listening to the rain against the wall Creating a constant sensuous beat, Movements, feelings, inhibition's defeat Somehow making us feel completely whole! A warm sensuous mood pervades all You smile, your eyes light up in thrall With loves sweet juice we toast our feat Drip! Drip! Drip! We’ve no concern about what may befall To keep this love, we both give our all. For what we have created is so sweet Each touch, each kiss makes it complete, Love will survive now, what err befall. Drip! Drip! Drip!  ----- Tomorrow Tomorrow belongs to no one Yet we plan our dreams upon Such a fickle thing as fate And smiling kiss our mate Then see it all is gone. Instead of that Fate's won And what as two begun Is beaten at the gate. Tomorrow. So no longer two is one What ere they dreamed upon Has been cast aside by Fate Saying farewell at another gate What was two is one, just one Tomorrow.  ----- Unspoken Tears Unspoken tears have been shed many times Perhaps too often playing games And so with time we build a wall To stand behind and hide from it all And miss our soulmate ofttimes. But if we take a chance sometimes Walking a path that upward climbs Dare at time to look over the walls Unspoken tears have been shed Fortune favours love most times Do not judge on past bedtimes Do not judge on what befalls Love o’ercomes the worst pitfalls And into the most joyous climes Unspoken tears have been shed  ----- Varying Things Varying things, what would you do? Would my face be changed to another's view? Just thoughts that wander around my mind In absence of you I try to find Stupid settlement of a thought, I need a clue You've moved on I gleam from knowing you, And cast aside the past, inside you grew The past you knew would be declined Varying things. There are no regrets, you've bid adieu Welcoming thoughts and dreams anew Thus I find hope, no longer blind Hoping our future will be combined For now I trust what you would do Varying things.  The Deceitfulness of Riches - Eleanor Fortescue brickdale ----- Vehicles I See Outside They work the vehicles I see outside SUVs here are a functional ride They never take their kids to school At seven they are working as a rule. Weekends they are cleaned with pride. Back in the city see a different stride The driver's raised so that the road's vied Usually ignorant of safety and road rules, They don't work like vehicles I see outside. They have no judgement of speed and wide If they overtake they're on the wrong side However smart in a car they are fools They sit slow in the fast lane breaking rules They only use with fear and not pride Unable to work the vehicles I see outside.  ----- X Marks My Spot X marks my spot until you to come Wondering what has love become The candle casts a soft warm light Flickering in the winds of night Dreading the possible outcome The music plays the crowd has gone Unconsciously I begin to drum As fear makes my insides tight X marks my spot. Save for the staff now I'm all alone I feel their looks, my mind has gone. Once I was your shining Knight Now your look's pure frostbite What is it? What have I done? X marks my spot.  back to list |
Divena CollinsSo sad but true of a poet within need That lives in poverty no muse to feed He who lies alone within dire torment For all he once wrote was heaven sent And all he can do now is silently read. In past times he was poetical indeed Within his years he did once succeed But all to soon good fortune relents So sad but true. But fate had served him a misdeed How on this earth could he proceed Within failure and much discontent In the past long hours had he spent Why now must this muse go to seed So sad but true.  ----- Dreams of Love This love she feels that cannot hide For words that linger deep inside Remains clear within misted eyes All too often sad tears she cries The sea may part from far and wide. Sweet the memory love shall provide Upon the tidal waves time shall ride Loves fortune may show in the skies This love she feels. Sweeter the shore on the other side Shall not lovers have need to divide For whats ahead shall be no surprise When temperatures of love shall rise Deep within shall confess with pride This love she feels.  In Love - Gabriel Cornelius von Max ----- First Love (I think) Was this not love upon that moonlit night If not the first maybe the second sight The moon was full was that maybe why Did I see the stars shine up in the sky Was it really you that held me so tight. I felt that our future was looking bright With no get up and go why should I fight For I never went out of my way to try Was this not love. The dress I wore was of a virginal white I dont think you looked but it felt alright You seemed impatient when I was so shy That was the reason that I began to cry Maybe one day I shall get this thing right Was this not love.  ----- He's Gone Fishing I who felt love oft'times before Maybe I shall say the word amore It definately sounds much better When sent within his love letter As he fished upon the sea shore. It shall be me who reads his lore He maybe think its just his chore While my feet are getting wetter I who felt love. I maybe visit the clothing store For my confidence to restore To appear within fine fetter And buy a plunge neck sweater One he shall never try to ignore I who felt love.  ----- In Slow Motion In slow motion I ran towards you In a floating gown of chiffon blue Your arms were open so tenderly I felt what you needed was ecstasy It can only be your dream come true. I think when you saw me you knew Whatever was in my passion to do But it all went wrong so drastically In slow motion. I tripped over the heel of my shoe It could only of happened to a few I fell in front of you practically It all had gone wrong so radically To reveal all you could have anew In slow motion.  ----- Of Days Delights Of days delights are all but a few I waken too soon to morning dew Which alone shall please me much Within warmth of a lovers touch That shall awaken pleasure anew. All too soon strange feelings grew Twas not of pickle or yeasty brew I never forgot how I felt as such Of days delights. All I had known this love was true Oft' we slept within an open canoe There were no brakes nor a clutch 'Twas that or nap in a rabbit hutch Upon ocean wavelets dappled blue Of days delights.  ----- Of Sacred Love Of sacred love 'twixt wild and free Touched with affection tenderly There is no other within the tribe That would dare to hinder or bribe Within falsehood of their destiny. Spirits of freedom they shall be That follow the ancient ancestry Which is carved within a scribe Of sacred love. For theirs is the tribe of the Cree Upon a reunion both shall agree Within a mutual spiritual vibe That only lovers shall describe As they share the touch of ecstasy Of sacred love.  ----- Restoration Society That which was an old farm gate Long years of abuse past its date Had once sadly remained broken Silent words remained unspoken For such was the result of fate. Over grown meadows left too late A wilderness that could not wait For the pasture had been a token That which was. What was one time left to deflate Once had featured a grand estate Restored once more a past taken An old farm gate carved of oaken May then be on debate to create That which was.  ----- Somewhere In Time So sweet a kiss so softly bestown Cherished love I hath never known Or was this to be within dreams Tho' it was real enough it seems For this affection had been shown. With angels wings my heart had flown But fantasy had known I was prone Was it for me that love redeems So sweet a kiss. A love that had within time grown Shalt be floating on clouds not alone Dreaming of once such high esteem Of what may be of loves extreme Somewhere in time winds hath blown So sweet a kiss.  ----- A Spell of Love A spell of love shall hither you forth If it be East South West or of north It shall still venture have you no doubt For this is what telepathy is all about Hypnotic powers have so much worth Magic shall work if you figure it out. Anything is better than being without Herbal remedies of potions unearth A spell of love. They say that love gains a new rebirth That herbal remedies tighten the girth It maybe that magic is not your shout With human nature you remain devout To give all and indulge upon a hearth A spell of love.  ----- Thou Shalt Not See Thou shalt not see a double rainbow Nor springtime flowers that grow The freshness of meadows green Where the morning dew has been Nor winters seasons frost or snow The gift of sight shall not be so Thou shall not see the rivers flow For thee it simply shant be seen Thou shalt not see. But you can hear the winds that blow Talk to the trees about all you know Touch the hearts of the wild serene Of the birds within trees that preen There is love within you can show Thou shalt not see.  Blind Child - John Millais ----- Twilight Zone The drip of a tap may mentally harm Only to violate a feeling of calm When peaceful silence lies within Annoying when temper runs thin Dripping water is a curse of alarm. Gentle raindrops shall always charm Almost akin to soothing of balm Nature sweet song shall ever outwin. The drip of a tap. A problem solved shall be no qualm A washer it needs within your palm Perhaps you will need it thick or thin Then use a spanner to insert it in If all fails words of abuse becalms The drip of a tap.  ----- Voice of Wisdom It hath come to pass many moons ago The voice of wisdoms words did flow There shalt be light come from the sky Beam down to earth upon thee and I Where the tree of liberty shall grow. This light shall be a blessing to show For freedom of the winds that blow May bequeath angels tears that cry It hath come to pass. Our earth shalt not be ready to go No matter what planets may throw It shalt not be Earths time to die A voice of wisdom speak from high All life upon this earth shalt know It hath come to pass.  ----- A Working Lass A working lass within her grace That had earned respect of place She was her fathers pride and joy There was nobody else to employ But comings and goings he'd trace. She would not her father disgrace Though she fared a beautiful face There is never a man shall destroy A working lass. Tho' her father prayed for a boy Fate was not with him in his ploy She was never one for pearls and lace And knows she, he will never replace In his wisdom he could never annoy A working lass.  Farmers Daughter - John Millais back to list |
Jemm FarmerMy Mother moon, I pray to you, Bless this night with your silver hue, Reveal your light in words I say And deeds I do along the way I seek the path that leads me through. I feel your love in all that’s true, In lunar light, a clearer view, To calmly soothe the darkest day, My Mother Moon. Giving thanks and blessings too, For gentle love in which I grew, And though I often walk astray, I know you love me anyway, As I return to be with you My Mother Moon.  ----- Expressing the Inexpressible Inside my mind, there burns a fiery hell Insolent voices chime the torment bell A raging war that tears apart love’s dream While feuding thoughts throughout the night just scream Like lifeless echoes in an empty well. Ideals and dreams are lost in silent swells That linger before the thundery knell Beyond the beauty of the sunshine beam Inside my mind! I look at you as senses deftly fell My joy in love with doubts I cannot tell I sit and watch my fading self esteem It floats away upon a distant stream Oh please hold my hand through this living hell Inside my mind!  ----- A Lesson In Love Love hurts actually when kisses turn To tears as old passions no longer burn; The tender words are gone in screams of hate, And patient feelings pause in nervous wait For the next time love turns to mock and spurn The heart that sees all, continues to yearn, While hoping dreams of forever return Yet knowing it's already far too late, Love hurts actually. The envying eyes that curl like a fern With lying lips that voice a fake concern To strip the senses as the dreams deflate The broken heart has naught to compensate; If only it could simply start to learn Love hurts actually. ----- Sam Look in the mirror, dude, what can you see? Mismatched promises of the things to be Unanswered questions of reason and rhyme Lost in the crevices of passing time While battling against calls of destiny. Unethically crude cuss names maybe The strain of living in reality But being yourself is never a crime, Look in the mirror, dude. See the warrior who fails to agree Denying others the right to live free Is the true path to the righteous sublime See the warrior who knows that's the crime And stands with pride for all humanity Look in the mirror, dude.  ----- Without a Clue It's complicated, what does that mean? I cannot see what cannot be seen How can my heart understand you If left to die without a clue Yet it dreams of what might have been. Like bad movies on silver screen I am left tainted and unclean The answers hidden in what's true It's complicated! Thinking over a mug of caffeine Vivaldi brings a sense, serene, My eyes look out upon the view Now I must do what I can do And find myself while in-between It's complicated!  ----- Zero Tolerance My brother rests in deepest sleep, While by his side we stand and weep, The goddess called to take his hand And lead him to the Summerland Our sense of loss runs ever deep. A change in law too slowly creeps, Desperate needs and talk is cheap Zero tolerance they have planned My brother, rest. To the heart the grief is too steep, Through emptiness the anger seeps, In your name we make our demand, Enforce the laws that they have planned, The joy of life is never cheap My brother, rest. In Memory of Jean-Pierre Chastain, 28 July 1957-20 February 2013  back to list |
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