lesbian, poetry, poetry submission, submission, poem submission, submit poetry, submit poem, poetry book, book, book of poems, 
poem book, book of poetry, rhyme, rhymes, lesbian poetry, lesbian poem, lesbian poems, lesbian poetry book, lesbian poem book, 
lesbian book of poems, lesbian book of poetry, lesbian poetry submission, lesbian publication, lesbian poem publication, 
publication, poem publication, poetry publication, ebook of lesbian poetry, lesbian poetry ebook lesbian, poetry, poetry submission, submission, poem submission, submit poetry, submit poem, poetry book, book, book of poems, 
poem book, book of poetry, rhyme, rhymes, lesbian poetry, lesbian poem, lesbian poems, lesbian poetry book, lesbian poem book, 
lesbian book of poems, lesbian book of poetry, lesbian poetry submission, lesbian publication, lesbian poem publication, 
publication, poem publication, poetry publication, ebook of lesbian poetry, lesbian poetry ebook lesbian, poetry, poetry submission, submission, poem submission, submit poetry, submit poem, poetry book, book, book of poems, 
poem book, book of poetry, rhyme, rhymes, lesbian poetry, lesbian poem, lesbian poems, lesbian poetry book, lesbian poem book, 
lesbian book of poems, lesbian book of poetry, lesbian poetry submission, lesbian publication, lesbian poem publication, 
publication, poem publication, poetry publication, ebook of lesbian poetry, lesbian poetry ebook lesbian, poetry, poetry submission, submission, poem submission, submit poetry, submit poem, poetry book, book, book of poems, 
poem book, book of poetry, rhyme, rhymes, lesbian poetry, lesbian poem, lesbian poems, lesbian poetry book, lesbian poem book, 
lesbian book of poems, lesbian book of poetry, lesbian poetry submission, lesbian publication, lesbian poem publication, 
publication, poem publication, poetry publication, ebook of lesbian poetry, lesbian poetry ebook
BACK TO HOME PAGE SITE NAVIGATION CONTACT STORY FORUM GENERAL FORUM   Horoscope  Radio  Gallery  FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   PM's   
Log in 

Poetry Forum Index -> Poetic Form and Technique

On this night (#22 Paradelle)

LifeVita6
  Author    Thread Post new topic Reply to topic
Eiregirl



Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 10230
Location: Chasing a pink bunny
On this night (#22 Paradelle)

What is a paradelle?
A paradelle is a difficult French poetic form first used in the eleventh century. Or so Billy Collins said in a footnote when he first published the “Paradelle for Susan” in 1997…more on this in the history part.

Structure…
This fixed form of poetry consists of four six-line stanzas with a repetitive pattern.

The first three stanzas:
The first two lines as well as the third and fourth lines of the first three stanzas must be the same (repeat). Where it begins to get difficult and become more of a poetic puzzle is when reaching fifth and sixth lines. These lines must contain all the words from the preceding four lines within the stanza using them only once to form completely new lines.
In other words…
The first line is also the second line
The third line is also the forth line
The fifth and sixth lines must contain the words used in the first four lines (using each word only once) and this pattern continues on for the first three stanzas.
Another example of the first three stanza’s
Line one
Line one repeated
Line two
Line two repeated
Line five using words from the first four lines
Line six using words from the first four lines

The last stanza:
The final stanza of the paradelle does not repeat like the preceding stanzas, rather the final six lines must contain every word from the first three stanzas and only those words using them only once to form six completely new lines.
In other words every word used in the prior three stanzas gets used to make up the last stanza but you can only use each word one time.
To the best of my knowledge and from the few poems I have read that use this form there is nothing that clearly states you cannot use the same words twice except in the last two lines of the first three stanza’s and the complete last stanza. In the fifth and sixth lines of the first three stanza’s each word can only be used one time and in the last stanza each word can only be used one time.

So in all actuality you only have six lines of words to make a twenty-four line poem.

History…
Billy Collins invented this form of poetry in 1997 as a hoax…it is not an eleventh century French form it is a twentieth century American form developed by America’s poet laureate from 2001 to 2003.
The footnote in “Paradelle for Susan” stated;
“The paradelle is one of the more demanding French fixed forms, first appearing in the langue d'oc love poetry of the eleventh century. It is a poem of four six-line stanzas in which the first and second lines, as well as the third and fourth lines of the first three stanzas, must be identical. The fifth and sixth lines, which traditionally resolve these stanzas, must use all the words from the preceding lines and only those words. Similarly, the final stanza must use every word from all the preceding stanzas and only these words."
Apparently many people actually fell for the hoax. While some reviewers knew that the paradelle was a parody of a villanelle others criticized the “Paradelle for Susan” stating it was “an amateurish attempt at a difficult form…” apparently they did not know it was a hoax. Some poets took the form seriously writing their own paradelles. Others seeing a very strict form although invented as a hoax could not help trying it out and so the paradelle was born.

Billy Collins was born in New York City in 1941. He became America’s poet laureate from 2001 to 2003 and is a professor of English at Lehman College and has written several books of poetry including Sailing alone around the room, The Apple that Astonished Paris and Questions about Angels…check them out they are pretty good.

This is a very difficult poem to write mainly because you cannot use the same word twice…except for the identical lines of course. So if you attempt to write one of these poems choose your words carefully.

Now my poem…
On this night

On warm grass holding you gently this night
On warm grass holding you gently this night
The quiet darkness folds softly around us
The quiet darkness folds softly around us
Darkness holding us on this warm quiet night
The grass folds softly gently around you

Eyes like deep pools look into mine
Eyes like deep pools look into mine
Bright stars shine down from above
Bright stars shine down from above
Deep pools from above look down
Eyes like stars shine bright into mine

Hands moving lovingly across my body
Hands moving lovingly across my body
Your soft caress sliding over bare skin
Your soft caress sliding over bare skin
Soft hands caress over my body sliding
Moving lovingly across your bare skin

Your hands lovingly caress bare skin
Soft warm eyes shine like bright stars
Look down from deep pools above
Folds around us sliding over the grass
My body holding you gently into quiet darkness
Softly moving across mine on this night

Post Fri May 05, 2006 4:16 am 
 View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website  Reply with quote  
ghost



Joined: 06 Nov 2005
Posts: 2828
Location: MIA


brilliantly done, eire!

you know i love these styles you uncover for us... wish i could find the time and patience to try my hand at it.

ghost runs off to go and find her muse... she has been missing for weeks now...

regards
ghost
_________________
MIA

Post Fri May 05, 2006 5:41 am 
 View user's profile Send private message  Reply with quote  
Eiregirl



Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 10230
Location: Chasing a pink bunny


quote:
Originally posted by ghost:
brilliantly done, eire!

you know i love these styles you uncover for us... wish i could find the time and patience to try my hand at it.

ghost runs off to go and find her muse... she has been missing for weeks now...

regards
ghost


Thank you very much ghost...
Smiling and giving ghosts muse another cookie Laughing

Eiregirl Arrow

Post Sat May 06, 2006 5:47 am 
 View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website  Reply with quote  
ghost



Joined: 06 Nov 2005
Posts: 2828
Location: MIA


eire!!

so YOU have kidnapped my muse.... awww, give her back!! by now i have to resort to digging up ancient stuff...

lol

regards
ghost
_________________
MIA

Post Mon May 08, 2006 6:32 am 
 View user's profile Send private message  Reply with quote  
Eiregirl



Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 10230
Location: Chasing a pink bunny


I give ghosts muse a hug and a kiss then send her skipping back to ghost with a handful of cookies...knowing that if ghost lets her run out of cookies she will be back. Very Happy

Eiregirl Arrow

Post Tue May 09, 2006 2:11 am 
 View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website  Reply with quote  
  Display posts from previous:      
Post new topic Reply to topic

Jump to:  


Last Thread | Next Thread  >

Forum Rules:
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
LifeVita3

 

 



Search For Posters!


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group

In Association with Amazon.com
     
Terms & Conditions Privacy Statement Acknowledgements