The Rowan Tree
This is a form of poetry called Paradelle
More of a word puzzle, the paradelle is a very difficult format to master. A paradelle is a repetition of lines, with each stanza ending in two lines which use all of the words in the previous lines. Also, the last stanza uses all of the words from all previous stanzas.
The Rowan Tree
The Rowan Tree sways with whispers of love,
The Rowan Tree sways with whispers of love.
Powerful winds peel away at the bark, I watch,
powerful winds peel away at the bark, I watch.
I watch The Rowan Tree. Sways with whispers
of love peel away at the bark. Powerful winds.
A white expanse of frozen dawn, summons silence,
a white expanse of frozen dawn, summons silence.
There is much left unsaid through the edges of this journey,
there is much left unsaid through the edges of this journey.
Though the edges of this journey, silence summons frozen
dawn. A white expanse. There is much left unsaid.
I opened the door believing you were not far from me,
I opened the door believing you were not far from me.
I nestled down with words made of ink, spelled in earthly tremble,
I nestled down with words made of ink, spelled in earthly tremble.
With words made of ink, spelled in earthly tremble, you were not far
from me. I nestled down believing. I opened the door.
The waning sunlight took away our happiness, blackness seeped into my heart,
the waning sunlight took away our happiness, blackness seeped into my heart.
Wooden etchings of B&T picked clean and I'd fall forever out of love.
Wooden etchings of B&T picked clean and I'd fall forever out of love.
The waning sunlight took away wooden etchings of B&T. Our happiness,
picked clean. Blackness seeped into my heart. And I'd fall forever out of love.
Comments
squillows | May 18, 2008 - 16:20
I've studied paradelles and have attempted to write them before, but have never managed to write one as good as yours!
I like the format of paradelles, in that their repetitive quality can create a good atmosphere, sometimes mysterious, and some interesting phrases can emerge.
I like your paradelle. I think some of the best lines have been created from the paradelle's constraints on the last two lines of each stanza. I especially like:
'Sways with whispers of love peel away at the bark'
'silence summons frozen dawn'
and also
'Wooden etchings of B&T picked clean'
Very good, you have mastered the paradelle.
HaiAnh | May 18, 2008 - 21:45
I had never heard of this form before. It has a very mesmerising, cradle rhythm to it. It hypnotized me!
I imagine this took quite some time for you to master, I quess though that is also a good way to experiment with your poems.
Theresa C Newbill | May 19, 2008 - 10:27
Thank you both for taking the time to read and comment.
Billy Collins invented this form as a parody of the villanelle. He claims it originated in 11th century France, a fixed form, but actually he invented it.
In this piece I flipped it around and the tone is not parody, but it is serious subject matter.