This week I absolutely want to introduce the kyrielle form. It’s a lovely pattern with a last line refrain. Shadow Poetry explains the possible rhyme schemes. Since I didn’t want to abandon the picture prompt, I’ve made this a three in one. I hope you’ll try the kyrielle, but don’t feel obliged if you don’t take to it. There’s a painting and a handful of words if you’d rather do your own thing.
The painting is Russian (click on the image for details, it’s all in cyrillic script). It’s obviously a moonlit scene, but is it entirely peaceful? Some of the trees are perfectly straight and still, others appear to be moving. Where does the road lead? What does the artist know that the viewer doesn’t?
Try incorporating these words:
Moonlight, tread, wary, secret, swaying.
My example uses one of the permitted rhyme schemes. There are others. Post a link to your poem in the comments, and take your time. You have a whole week.
Dream walking
Where moonlight casts a trembling swathe,
In silver the swaying poplars bathe,
Dreams are walking through the night,
Trailing gossamer threads of light.
Night shadows drape the silent trees,
Fluttering leaves in gentle breeze,
I tread the secret paths starbright,
Trailing gossamer threads of light.
A glow suffuses bloom and stalk,
As light as thistledown I walk,
Too slow, you pass out of my sight,
Trailing gossamer threads of light.
Beyond the tranquil, moonlit brook,
Lost in shade the path you took,
Putting the wary deer to flight,
Trailing gossamer threads of light.
Beneath the midnight dreaming boughs,
Where barn owl calls and cold wind soughs,
Dawn breaks like sour, creeping blight,
Trailing gossamer threads of light.
I’m excited to try this. I love repeated refrains. Yours is lovely–and a bit creepy. 🙂
Moonlight and trees has that effect on me 🙂
🙂
I like your choice of refrain and the way you make it different each time by changing perspective. The painting is a wonderful choice, too.
Thank you Brenda 🙂 It’s a painting that preys on my mind every time I see it. I hope it will inspire some great poems.
I’m sure it will. 🙂
Dreamy and a little dark…lovely choice. Here’s my effort: https://fmmewritespoems.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/moonlight-kyrielle
I seem to be struggling with technology today, so let me know if i haven’t linked up properly!
It linked perfectly 🙂
Very well written.
I’ll see if I can come up with something.
Thanks 🙂 I’m sure you can!
That is a great last line for the repetition! I really like this.
While I am hard at work on this week’s, I have completed last weeks prompt:) it can be found here
https://thoughtsandentanglements.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/perspective/
Thanks to all. Will be back hopefully sooner than later with this week’s response.
Pat
Thanks for leaving a link here too, Pat. I was just about to do just that 🙂
A beautiful refrain 🙂 and thank you for the multi-layered prompt.
I’m looking forward to reading your poem 🙂 I hope I get a few kyrielles in the bunch.
Hi Jane, here’s my take
https://srisudhak.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/decission-right/
Counting days until a significant decade birthday…my thoughts are colored slightly retrospective…here is my kyrielle poem then. Have a lovely weekend Jane. kat
https://kmmyrman.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/lone-journey/
We’re all going there, Kat, and each journey is ultimately alone. Have a wonderful, spectacular birthday or weekend, whichever is soonest 🙂
Thank you Jane. Yes we are. And I have to say, I am feeling rather good in this season of life..:)
The big plus to getting older is that some of us get wiser 🙂
Yes indeed. I agree! 🙂
Your poem is mesmerizing=) Thank you for such an interesting challenge! Here’s my attempt: https://fantasyraconteur.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/dark-skies/
It’s more than an attempt; it’s a great poem 🙂
The painting is Moonlit Night, Highway by Isaac Illich Levitan
And here’s my kyrielle:
https://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/dreaming-trees/
Okay, I tried my hand at this one. Formal poetry is such a torture machine, even really flexible forms.
https://wordsandfeathers.com/2016/05/26/shard-20160526/
You tortured the song rhythm out of it and achieved something else. Very effective.
Thank you very much.
Love the prompt, Jane… nice to try a different peotic form too. https://scvincent.com/2016/05/27/dreaming-trees/
It’s a good one to work with. The refrain adds an extra dimension.
Restrictions like that offer a new perspective.
Sometimes rules can provide a structure rather than a constraint.
Anything that contains can be a double-edged sword.
A wonderful rhythm this has, and the words of the refrain are stunning. I might have a go, as this is a new form to me. Glad to have found you, through Sue Vincent’s blog. Harula x
Nice to meet you too, Harula 🙂 I hope you do have a go at a kyrielle, I’ve had a lot of pleasure working with it.
OK, had to have a go – here’s my effort! H x
https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/the-trees-can-hear/
I’m glad you did. It’s beautiful 🙂
Here’s mine. https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/moonlight-kyrielle/
I made a revision to make my kyrielle a kyrielle sonnet.
https://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/dreaming-trees-kyrielle-sonnet/
Your photo prompts are inspring, Jane! Here’s my entry: https://peterbouchier.wordpress.com/english-essays-and-poems-2/road-to-eternity/ Have a great weekend!
You too, Peter 🙂
Lovely poem, Jane. I enjoyed writing a kyrielle. It’s structured, but has a nice flow. Here’s my piece: https://blog.triciadrammeh.com/2016/05/27/poetry-challenge-dreaming-trees/
Thank you to Jane for this Poetry Challenge! Here is my contribution https://cffullerton.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/poetry-challenge-dreaming-trees/
I did not use the words. I was inspired in another way by this intriguing picture!
https://writersdream9.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/moonlitkyrielle/
That poem is just stunning and so dream-like!
Glad you like it 🙂 That painting is so very evocative of the night time.
Take some credit. Its not all about the painting you know.
I like the poem and I’m glad you do too 🙂
a beautiful form
https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/elegy-memorial-day-2016/
I don’t think I’ve ever been called bashful before….but here I go again.
“The moonlight treads a wary way
To where the secret lovers lay
With entwined limbs they hold parley
Swaying passions with every play.”
Nice one 🙂 Bashful or not, you write sweet poetry 🙂
Thanks Jane. I haven’t been writing regularly for some time now, but there was an age when I did. 🙂
Then it’s time you started again 🙂
sorry, late again. I’ll post this myself later in the week – I’m getting caught up with myself! But here’s my take on the Kyrielle
Becoming a man
Nowhere to hide in soft moonlight
If there’s someone left still to fight
Your mates are there, and me and you
The day we walked that Avenue
*
Should men, good and true, softly tread
If there’s no one left and all are dead
And our fists are clenched, a wary crew
The day we walked that Avenue
*
There’s a secret to becoming a man
Know when to run, when make a stand
Ignore your mind, if heart be true
The day we walked that Avenue.
You’re making quite a habit of the grand entrance, Geoff 🙂 At least it was worth waiting for. Great poem, and thanks for adding it to the anthology!
This is lovely! I know I’m a day too late but thought I’d give it a try, I hope you don’t mind. Love the image and your poem.
The road runs soft into the night
Bathed bright in silver-gold moonlight
But hold! Be wary where you tread
We know not what might lie ahead
The way is clear, the path is true
A journey set for me and you
To take us far from home and bed
We know not what might lie ahead
Swaying branches, a voice unseen,
Are we awake? Or do we dream?
The stars are bright, the darkness dread
We know not what might lie ahead
A secret lies where daylight meets
The dark of night in sunrise sweet
A shout of light to raise the dead
We know not what might lie ahead
We know not what might lie ahead.
Not to worry—I’ll add it to the round up and tweet it again. Lovely rhythm to this one, Helen. I particularly like the repetition of the last line to bring the poem even closer to a song 🙂
Thanks, Jane – the form is lovely and it does feel like a song, I really enjoyed this challenge. I’ll post it as well and link back to you, if that’s okay 🙂
Fine, and glad you enjoyed the challenge! Try the cascade form—I think you’ll like it.
I’ve just put in a link to your blog and posted the poem in the round up.
Thanks so much, Jane 🙂 And I will check out the cascade form too.
This is beautiful! ❤
Thank you!