Roundel (poetry)
Encyclopedia
A roundel is a form of verse used in English language poetry
devised by Algernon Charles Swinburne
(1837-1909). It is a variation of the French rondeau
form. It makes use of refrains, repeated according to a certain stylized pattern. A roundel consists of nine lines each having the same number of syllables, plus a refrain after the third line and after the last line. The refrain must be identical with the beginning of the first line: it may be a half-line, and rhymes with the second line. It has three stanzas and its rhyme scheme is as follows: A B A R ; B A B ; A B A R ; where R is the refrain
.
Swinburne had published a book A Century of Roundels . He dedicated these poems to his friend Christina Rossetti
, who then started writing roundels herself.
A roundel is wrought as a ring or a starbright sphere, (A)
With craft of delight and with cunning of sound unsought, (B)
That the heart of the hearer may smile if to pleasure his ear (A)
A roundel is wrought. (R)
Its jewel of music is carven of all or of aught - (B)
Love, laughter, or mourning - remembrance of rapture or fear - (A)
That fancy may fashion to hang in the ear of thought. (B)
As a bird's quick song runs round, and the hearts in us hear (A)
Pause answer to pause, and again the same strain caught, (B)
So moves the device whence, round as a pearl or tear, (A)
A roundel is wrought. (R)
Swinburne’s poem A BABY'S DEATH contains seven roundels. Here is the fourth roundel, which became a song Roundel: The little eyes that never knew Light
when set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar
:
The little eyes that never knew
Light other than of dawning skies,
What new life now lights up anew
The little eyes?
Who knows but on their sleep may rise
Such light as never heaven let through
To lighten earth from Paradise?
No storm, we know, may change the blue
Soft heaven that haply death descries
No tears, like these in ours, bedew
The little eyes.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
devised by Algernon Charles Swinburne
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He invented the roundel form, wrote several novels, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica...
(1837-1909). It is a variation of the French rondeau
Rondeau (poetry)
This article is about the poetry form. For other uses, see Rondeau.A rondeau is a form of French poetry with 15 lines written on two rhymes, as well as a corresponding musical form developed to set this characteristic verse structure...
form. It makes use of refrains, repeated according to a certain stylized pattern. A roundel consists of nine lines each having the same number of syllables, plus a refrain after the third line and after the last line. The refrain must be identical with the beginning of the first line: it may be a half-line, and rhymes with the second line. It has three stanzas and its rhyme scheme is as follows: A B A R ; B A B ; A B A R ; where R is the refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
.
Swinburne had published a book A Century of Roundels . He dedicated these poems to his friend Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti
Christina Georgina Rossetti was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems...
, who then started writing roundels herself.
Examples
Swinburne’s first roundel was called THE ROUNDEL:A roundel is wrought as a ring or a starbright sphere, (A)
With craft of delight and with cunning of sound unsought, (B)
That the heart of the hearer may smile if to pleasure his ear (A)
A roundel is wrought. (R)
Its jewel of music is carven of all or of aught - (B)
Love, laughter, or mourning - remembrance of rapture or fear - (A)
That fancy may fashion to hang in the ear of thought. (B)
As a bird's quick song runs round, and the hearts in us hear (A)
Pause answer to pause, and again the same strain caught, (B)
So moves the device whence, round as a pearl or tear, (A)
A roundel is wrought. (R)
Swinburne’s poem A BABY'S DEATH contains seven roundels. Here is the fourth roundel, which became a song Roundel: The little eyes that never knew Light
Roundel: The little eyes that never knew Light
"Roundel: The little eyes that never knew Light" is a song with piano accompaniment written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1897. The words are from the fourth roundel of a poem A Baby's Death written by A. C...
when set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
:
The little eyes that never knew
Light other than of dawning skies,
What new life now lights up anew
The little eyes?
Who knows but on their sleep may rise
Such light as never heaven let through
To lighten earth from Paradise?
No storm, we know, may change the blue
Soft heaven that haply death descries
No tears, like these in ours, bedew
The little eyes.