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Open Poetry #44
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Kethry
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082
Victoria Australia

0 posted 2009-02-11 08:18 AM


* Hello everyone,
I'm trying to write a Chant Royale. I have the rules but I seem to be missing some. Could someone who is knowledgable about this form review this second draft and give me some pointers. Pretty please
At birth genetic structures are assigned
there’s joy and sorrow in each tiny cell
the architecture of our span designed
by gods who voice a dark and sombre spell
although it’s not your fault you aren’t to blame
the consequences bind you just the same
you’re as a moth that’s gathered to the fire
for all your path of life seem grim and dire
it’s plain enough accept it, come what may
don’t you try, just do what you require
there’s nothing you can do and nothing say.

You grow and find your forces realigned
sometimes you make a heaven, sometimes hell
but nowhere in the contract that you’ve signed
are clauses giving comfort you could yell
you look to see what respite you may claim
to break away your vision and your aim
you seek a charm to take you from the mire
and search for something random to inspire
but ‘ere the piper comes you have to pay
you rail against your role and wish for higher
but nothing you can do, so nothing say.

Although the folk who stare are not unkind
you feel their glances, see their pity swell
and always at the forefront of your mind
are all the things you know but cannot tell
you wish that you were blind or you were lame
so you could have good reason for your shame
you ask all questions, religiously enquire
you risk the wrath of gods and all their ire
you wish that you had strength to fight this fray
perhaps ‘just once’ a chance to win  desire
but nothing can you do and nothing say

The problem of your birth is what you find
within the darkness, formless horrors dwell
you know you should be dead, at least resigned
a scarred soul has an odour you can smell
your chance of life had gone before it came
there’s nothing left to you except your name
the ground will shift and take you to the wire
while neurons fade and suddenly misfire
and all god’s creatures made up of this clay
revile you, although a sense of purpose you acquire
there’s nothing you can do and nothing say.

You memory of life in slow rewind
begs the question that will never gel
you cannot see the future, but behind
is a crooked path on which you fell
so everything within your fragile frame
is settled by genetics you proclaim
and tangled, broken are your strings, you tire
of this vampire drill in your attire
but how you’d love the chance to change the day
to take away the chromosome quagmire
Since nothing now can change, you nothing say.

The choice your mother made, life, soon became
the burden you would bear with your surname
although you curse your loving mum and sire
and wish for life or a funeral pyre
hidden imperfections wound your way
but every step of fighting mars desire
there’s nothing you can do and nothing say.




Always do more than is required of you George Patton

[This message has been edited by Kethry (02-13-2009 04:35 PM).]

© Copyright 2009 Lynne Dale - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2009-02-11 09:12 AM


This is the first I've heard of this form,
and this is what I found on it, so far.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chant_royal

I'll come back this evening and look it
over again.


Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
2 posted 2009-02-11 09:47 AM


Hi, Keth! Very impressive! Thank you for introducing me to this old French form. I checked out Sunshiny One's link and have now included this in my Poetic Forms folder!

This poem is definitely deserves at least another read through!!! I want to let it soak in!


Linda

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3 posted 2009-02-11 11:38 AM


Yo dear Kethry,

I'm not at all familiar with the form.

However, this poem is quite long, and perhaps a little dry.  However, then again, I suppose those into genealogy would dig it.

Love Bobby

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
4 posted 2009-02-13 10:25 AM


Well... *S* You know me... if I don't know something, I have to dig. *S* And every source I located indicates the 5 stanzas should have 11 lines each, followed by the envoi. So by those standards, you should have 2 more lines in each stanza. (I also read that anyone who writes a chant royale has forever mastered the sonnet. *G*)

However... you know also that I don't care diddly about form... I want substance! *S* And you nailed that, dear lady! We don't all start on a level playing field... and some things can't be changed but must be coped with.

Beautiful, poignant write!

Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
5 posted 2009-02-13 11:01 AM


I have to agree with Suthern on this.  From what I could find on it, there should be 11 lines per stanza on the 5 and then wrap it up with a 5 on the envoy.  You did nail the last line requirement quite well from what I read it should be as well as the rhyme scheme.  I don't know this style but I would say you get a blue ribbon for even attempting it and also for the content.  There may be a variation of it for 9 lines but all I found is the 11.  Well done and either way, I enjoyed it but more so, I enjoyed seeing you stretch.  I remember when you first came here and I look at you now and am impressed.
Kethry
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082
Victoria Australia
6 posted 2009-02-13 04:25 PM


suthern and Mark,
you are both absolutely right and I've made some changes. Hopefully it doesn't change the reading of it. Fancy forgetting all about the d rhyme. I could have made it easy on myself and added a c rhyme but I didn't discover that until I'd made changes.

Always do more than is required of you George Patton

Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
7 posted 2009-02-13 04:31 PM


Just re-read this and I admire your persistence.   Well done and a "thumbs up".  As I said, you continue to grow in your poetry and I admire you for doing so.
ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
8 posted 2009-02-14 04:13 PM


Kethry

I don't know what type of poem that is (Chant Royale)
but you have composed a deep dark work here.
As I reread it I felt a deep emotional appeal from some place lonely.
If that's what you were trying to achieve then this is very well done.

However, I am not much of a poet. I do the odd sonnet but that's about the extent of it.
Comes from being an old songwriter I guess.

Wonderful to read your work again and don't forget our picnic!

Eric

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
9 posted 2009-02-14 04:33 PM


Kethry - long time no see. Hope you're doing well. I'm still working on the book... not that familiar with the style of this write, but found it interesting...

BC

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
10 posted 2009-02-16 08:45 AM


a scarred soul has an odour you can smell

So sadly true. *S*

You amaze me, lady... you expanded every stanza and did so seamlessly. A major BRAVO!!

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
11 posted 2009-02-16 12:49 PM


This made me shiver inside, it is so tremendously dark, hopeless. Very impressively composed, though I know nothing about "chant royal" (just read now about it in wikipedia), it resembles a ballad and a sad sad one.

... you nothing say such a chilling refrain!

Love,
Margherita

Pilgrimage
Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945
Texas, USA
12 posted 2009-02-21 12:14 PM


BrokenSword would be the expert on the form.  You'll need to ask him.  I haven't ever tried one.  They're just too too long for my short span of attention.  I enjoyed reading through this one, and seeing the way you avoided looking like you were jumping through hoops to keep the rhyme.  From what I've read about the Chant Royale, it always goes for the slightly pompous subjects.  Yours is better.

Nan (Pilgrim variety)

Kethry
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082
Victoria Australia
13 posted 2009-02-21 03:22 PM


True Nan,
but I have no way to contact broken sword. Does anyone know how I can contact broken sword.

Always do more than is required of you George Patton

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