Flash Fire Rondeau

Another classic form

Like sooty sentinels they stand forlorn, 
amongst the charred remains of rye and corn.
The forest fire has raged without remorse,
and cleared the meadow floor of whin and gorse
to leave the grassland desolate and foreign

The painter’s palette now is wrenched and torn,
bright  coloured blooms are dead before they’re born,
and blackened trees look on, a watchful force,
like sooty sentinels.

The canopy above is scorched and shorn,
and bluebells now no altars will adorn.
A whirling dervish blaze has run its course,
though no one knows from whence the fire’s source.
The pines still stand aloof, with haughty scorn,
like sooty sentinels


          

The Rondeau (plural: Rondeaux) is a classic French lyrical form of poetry that became popular in the 13th to 15th centuries. It's known for its distinct structure involving a refrain and a limited number of rhymes.

Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:

1. Structure:

   • 15 lines in total.

   • Divided into three stanzas:

     • Stanza 1: Quintain (5 lines)

     • Stanza 2: Quatrain (4 lines)

     • Stanza 3: Sestet (6 lines)

2. Rhyme Scheme:

   • It uses only two rhymes throughout the poem (let's call them 'a' and 'b').

   • The rhyme scheme is: aabba aabR aabbaR

3. Refrain (R):

   • This is the most defining feature.

   • The refrain (R) is the opening phrase or words of the very first line of the poem.

   • This refrain appears as the last line of the second stanza (line 9) and the last line of the third stanza (line 15).

   • Crucially, the refrain does not need to rhyme with the 'b' rhyme that precedes it in lines 8 and 14. It stands as its own entity, derived from the 'a' rhyme of the first line. However, because it's part of the first line, it inherently establishes the 'a' rhyme.

4. Meter:

   • Traditionally, rondeaux were often written in octosyllabic lines (eight syllables) or decasyllabic lines (ten syllables), often iambic. However, modern interpretations can be more flexible.

Let's break down the structure visually:

Stanza 1 (Quintain)
Line 1: (Rhyme a) - The opening words of this line become the refrain (R)
Line 2: (Rhyme a)
Line 3: (Rhyme b)
Line 4: (Rhyme b)
Line 5: (Rhyme a)

Stanza 2 (Quatrain)
Line 6: (Rhyme a)
Line 7: (Rhyme a)
Line 8: (Rhyme b)
Line 9: (Refrain - R) - The opening words from Line 1

Stanza 3 (Sestet)
Line 10: (Rhyme a)
Line 11: (Rhyme a)
Line 12: (Rhyme b)
Line 13: (Rhyme b)
Line 14: (Rhyme a)
Line 15: (Refrain - R) - The opening words from Line 1

Tips for Writing a Rondeau:

1. Choose a Strong Refrain: Your opening phrase needs to be impactful and versatile enough to make sense when repeated at lines 9 and 15.

2. Plan Your Rhymes: With only two rhyme sounds, choose words that have many rhyming partners.

3. Weave the Refrain Naturally: The challenge is to make the refrain feel like an organic part of the poem in its later appearances, not just tacked on.

4. Develop Your Theme: The repetition of the refrain should reinforce or add new layers of meaning to your central theme.

5. Read Examples: Familiarize yourself with other rondeaux to get a feel for the form's rhythm and flow.

The Rondeau is a charming and challenging form. Its constraints can spark creativity, and the repeated refrain often gives the poem a haunting or memorable quality.