[net.poems] A Rondeau for Our Lady

john@cisden.UUCP (John Woolley) (05/08/86)

Here's a rondeau I wrote, in part to see whether I could do a rondeau in
modern English.  It's a very strict form, 13 lines of 4 or 5 iambs each
(the same number throughout the poem), with the first 2 feet of the first 
line repeated after the 8th and 13th lines.  The rhyme-scheme is strict,
aabbaaab.aabba.  These used to be fairly common in French.  As usual, any
criticism of form, thought, technique, or whatever is appreciated.


		  "With Love Suffused"
	      a Rondeau for the Annunciation

	With love suffused -- swift his descent! --
	to David's daughter Gabriel went,
	and archangelic tribute paid
	his fair young queen.  That matchless maid,
	each thought, each muscle calm, attent
	to God's will, graceful girl's-heart bent
	on sweet surrender's firm assent,
	our blessed treasure blissful prayed,
				with love suffused.
	Our Lady heard, gave Love consent
	in her flesh flesh to take, be blent
	in her with man.  His word obeyed,
	the archangel flew, but God's Word stayed
	in Mary, silent, chaste, content,
				with love suffused.


				     -- Fr. John Woolley