Form Challenges #14
Ballade Poetry |
|
The Ballade as its name suggests is a French form and along with the Rondeau was one of the first
forms to be standardised in the 14th cetury. Written in syllabic prosody of any
one line length, the original French forms were octosyllabic, but now decasyllable, iambic
tetrameter etc; are just as acceptable.
The construction is 28 lines which are divided into three octave stanzas and an envoi.
The rhyme and pattern do not change. It turns around on only three rhymes.and as is common with some
French forms the last line of each stanza is a refrain. The Ballade has a rhyme pattern of:
a, b, a,
b, b, c, b, C
and the envoy b, c, b,
C.
Leny Roovers' "Carving" below is an excellent example of this form.
|
Carving
Your words carve nightmares in my skin, they bleed-
obscure the lines that burn and scourge within,
as deep into my flesh the etching feeds
in layers only I knew to be thin.
Is witnessing a branding also sin?
I feel the tissues sizzle and contract,
the bluntness of the knife is sinking in-
as violated nerve-ends now retract.
You cut with great precision at the weeds
your eyes detected underneath my skin;
I bowed my head in silence and agreed,
endured your efforts, keeping up my chin.
But now I'm tired, hurting, in a spin;
beside deep-rooted weeds I lost- I cracked
on seeing on your face an old chagrin,
as violated nerve-ends now retract.
The hand that wields the knife will not recede,
though hesitation finally begins
to waver and confuse in loss of speed;
the silence that enfolds- a roaring din.
Our faces slowly lose the deadly grin,
essential parts that kept me whole, intact,
regenerated by adrenalin-
as violated nerve-ends now retract.
We'll throw the offal left into the bin
and start to build anew; we'll re-enact,
retrace our steps, determined we will win,
as violated nerve-ends now retract.
|
Envelope Ballade
The Envelope Ballade is no more difficult form than the basic Ballade, however the Refrain starts and
finishes each stanza. The construction is the same but the rhyme pattern changes to:
A, b, a, b,
c, a, c A,
and the envoy c, a, c
A,
Here is my example of this form.
|
Essence
To taste your essence on my lips
I sense your spirit in the wind
I feel you still at my fingertips
And see you smiling in my mind.
Your trembles to my touch says so
Sensing strongly how your heart skips
Passioned clutch forbids me go
To taste your essence on my lips
To taste your essence on my lips
Each night with dusk I feel a kind
Of bond with you of honeyed sips
To all else I am truly blind
Unseeing yet all of you I know
I am the bee and honey drips
So sweet a special nest doth grow
To taste your essence on my lips
To taste your essence on my lips
My soul and body to unwind
And free all feeling of loving nips
My will to lock and mind to bind
Yet such passioned feelings grow
A love drug giving me such trips
But after leaving me aglow
To taste your essence on my lips
Where are you from I do not know
The heavenly dust of passion grips
The white hot heat of Heavens snow
To taste your essence on my lips
|
|
Carly Svamvour
Sidereal Snowfall - Poetic Howl
(An Acrostic Ballade)
Silent is night 'neath star-spackled heavens
In tandem, earth reels with the galaxy.
Daughters of the north hearth shiver; husbands
engage strong sons at cuts of fallen trees.
Roaring fires render winter's cruelty
essentially helpless. In plaintiff call,
a lone wolf howls its song, 'cross the snowy
limbo of dreams, like life in a glass ball.
Sleep comes easy out there in the woodlands,
'neath eiderdown and old pine; big cities
of the world seem nothing more than craven
waxwork, destined to poison minds - dis-ease
for the lonely heart - tempest for the naive
adolescents who yearn for bright lights, all
lingering at the edge of a lazy
limbo of dreams, like life in a glass ball.
Pander me not with the palaverin'
on all of the latest amenities
enshrined in the suburbs, the exurbs and
tenpenny bullfeather bureaucracies.
I would, if given my druthers or leave,
choose to be right out there under the all
absorbing awe, this star-tangled hazy
limbo of dreams, like life in a glass ball.
Hearken the call to the northland, take ease
on a down-feathered bed. As the snow falls,
we shall turn, in tune with the galaxy's
limbo of dreams, like life in a glass ball.
-----
Sunnyside
- An Electrifying Ballade
Fierce growls from the gods of thunder
get the well-tanned lifeguards whistlin'
their charges out of the water.
Danger! This storm's on a mission,
they holler, as a fearsome wind
tears across the town's Great Lake,
threatening to set all a-spin,
leaving not too much in its wake.
Tourists take cover - tall waiters
bring small drinks, appear in tandem
with fork-light; the ensuing surge
sends pots of pelargonium
sprawling across the pavillion.
Scents of burnt toast, fries on the make
mingle with fear at the howlin',
leaving not too much in its wake.
Coast Guards, in bright yellow slickers
cross the lake to the horizon,
where a small white sailboat flounders.
The big vessel's horn blasts; tension
gathers and all who are lookin'
gasp as waves of a storm-tossed lake
swallow white sails, and all therein,
Leaving not too much in its wake.
Oh, do beware of the thunder
Electrical storms on the make
Take care, it could take you under,
Leaving not too much in its wake.
back to list
|
Leny Roovers
Climbing
The mountain that I chose to climb is tall-
on clear days I can barely see its peak,
the narrow path is treacherous and crawls
in twisting curves round crevices and creeks.
Beneath my feet loose stones and branches squeak,
each foothold is precariously tried
as slowly I will master the technique
to overcome this hardship, stay upright.
This vibrant rock is living, it enthrals;
the sights along the road distract- I’m weak,
each vista is seductive and it stalls
the steady progress upwards that I seek.
The summit is still far, the chance unique
to break new ground and trust my guide,
to follow in his footsteps and be meek-
to overcome this hardship, stay upright.
The gully is constricting with high walls,
as light has been cut off, the pass looks bleak;
the crowns of trees a ceiling for this hall
where high amidst the leaves a falcon shrieks.
I raise my head and see her wings in streak,
the fast flight downward to the prey she eyed;
it breaks my thrall and I at last can speak
to overcome this hardship, stay upright.
Restraining bonds shrugged off, I dare to peek,
new energy bursts free with every stride;
the words I cried from eyes have leaked
to overcome this hardship, stay upright.
-----
Love Affair
As modest maidens in their first long dress,
wide-skirted trees sway coyly on the breeze;
with dips and bows they're dancing and caress
the air with softest touch in fragrant tease.
Pink blossoms of the Prunus Japanese
flirt gently with the purple lilac blooms,
while in great bursts of white the pear-trees please,
show off the splendour of the favoured grooms.
A veil of blooms half hides a knotted tress,
as finely drawn thin branches now appease
excited birds still trying to impress;
in dance of love they give a mate reprise.
Fast moving wings a-twitter, she agrees-
a cloud of flurried feathers- he assumes
responsibility for this year's seize,
shows off the splendour of the favoured grooms.
Among the luscious leaves in dark recess,
as trees are humming with the song of bees,
a nest is built and lined with purple cress;
the eggs are laid and fit in close as peas.
New life unfolds in spring in crowns of trees
as Nature's breathing in and out resumes,
shapes images and forms in all degrees-
shows off the splendour of the favoured grooms.
My garden seemed a Paradise at ease
until dark shadows blocked the sun and loomed;
the feathers on the ground, though bright, don't please;
show off the splendour of the favoured grooms.
-----
Stings
Amidst a mound of last year's garden scraps
my favoured guests have made their hidden lair;
with cut-off branches, leaves to fill the gaps,
a camouflaged and safe retreat they share.
At twilight they come out to sniff the air,
the tiny feet are shuffling through the grounds
in search of titbits for their daily fare.
The end of day and peace of night is found.
A bowl of milk put out for them to lap,
attracted cats as well, now four eyes stare
from each side of the plate, till tension snaps,
as cats don't fancy touching prickly snares-
the hedgehogs flatten raised and pointed hairs.
The clear spring air is filled with evening sounds,
high in the elm-tree thrushes' song declares
the end of day and peace of night is found.
The scene I just have watched holds me entrapped
in visions of a similar affair;
the incompatibility a slap-
no matter how I wish or pray or swear.
When no solution, should I stop to care?
As each well-meant attempt is barred, rebounds,
emotion obscures issues, temper flares-
the end of day and peace of night is found.
As hedgehogs roll into a ball when scared,
I won't put on the thorns that had me crowned,
refuse the allegations, they're unfair;
the end of day and peace of night is found.
back to list
|
Sal Coraccio
William, and the Dragon
It was the latter part of fall,
the sky like slate grew cold with mist,
and though it promised us a squall
with growing winds that doth persist
to make the tavern's signpost twist,
we kept our tankards filled with rum
and sang of friends and maidens kissed,
the day the dragon ate William.
It started, as I do recall,
as William slammed his meaty fist
and took to wave it at us all
on muscled arms and heavy wrist;
was someone worthy in our midst,
who would, on challenge, with him come -
he was so obviously pissed,
the day the dragon ate William.
Yet none among us took the call,
we having known or having guessed,
that it involved the grisly wall
and nearby cave of late possessed,
and though we made a harsh protest,
he gave our noses all the thumb
and stormed right out without assist,
the day the dragon ate William.
We should have tried but he'd insist -
who'd have thunk the boast would kill him;
we sang him drunk on his great quest,
the day the dragon ate William.
back to list
|
Teagan De Danaan
Dignity
So much to do so much to share
True loves helps in time of pain
With each love a life of care
Helping each other to sustain
Love as much as you would deign
We lie on the bed together
Our love our life forged a chain
No one will separate us ever.
No longer knowing I am there
Constantly hearing "what's your name?"
These last months have seen so much wear
We have loved and will again.
Your mind died before the frame
At least in death we'll be together
Our love will not have been in vain
No one will separate us ever.
Stroke my face in mindless care
A reflex from a half dead brain
I wish, but there is nothing there
No conversation, just refrain.
No tears left and no shirt to stain
I know now love is forever
What we have lost we will regain
No one will separate us ever.
Life in your eyes begins to wain
Our ties with life we now sever.
Sleep my love dream of Cockaigne
No one will separate us ever.
Pills we took soon closed your eyes
Our breathing slows, no more sighs
Feel what I've done is for the best
And you fall asleep against my chest
-----
Part Moon Ballade
Only part a moon rises in the sky
Still it lightens the Jacaranda leaves
The darkness is no longer an ally
In removing the thoughts my mind perceives
I know the truth is what my heart believes
That chill half-hearted light now brings remorse
And welcomes now the more delightful eves
Into a soul more wanting to stay its course.
New moon tonight has ridden up on high
It's brightened rays send forth silver sheaves
And make the shadowy side ignore the lie
Until dawn turns blue, finally darkness leaves
To disappear until night again achieves
And creates a memory of this growing force
Created by two lovers who conceive
Into a soul more wanting to stay its course.
But now old moon that is drawn so fine
Your sleepless face can barely bless the wreaths
On the ground with one grey kiss as you die
Put sharpened blades of light into their sheaths
In a night of darkness sanity grieves
But a love once held strong needs no recourse
Knowing now that darkness helps lovers weave
Into a soul more wanting to stay its course.
Unseen in darkness your lover receives
Your words a gentle murmur to endorse
Knowing that eternity is all and recedes
Into a soul that thought to stay its course.
back to list
|
|
