The roundel (do not confuse this with the rondel) is an English variation of the roundeau.
Here are basic guidelines:
- 11 lines
- three stanzas (quatrain, tercet, quatrain)
- the opening of the first line becomes a refrain of the fourth and 11th lines and rhymes with lines two, five, seven, and nine
- rhyme pattern: abaB bab abaB
- while there’s no set syllable count per line, the lines within the poem are consistent, except for the refrain lines, which are more concise
It was introduced by Algernon Charles Swinburne.
WALT’S EXAMPLE:
MONDAY STARTS WEEKLY, by Walter J Wojtanik
Monday morning, I rise.
It comes without warning,
a vision for my eyes,
Monday morning.
A new day dawning,
I look to the skies,
the sun begins warming
and it’s no surprise.
I’m glad it’s not storming,
it elicit sighs,
Monday morning.
© Walter J Wojtanik – 2020
POETIC BLOOMINGS 