The Breath of Spring

Posted on 02/09/2011 by Through My Eyes

Flickr Image by CubaGallery

The breath of spring
whispers to a frigid threshold.
The breath of spring
sends winter-weary bones basking
in warmer days as they unfold
into new hopes and dreams untold -
the breath of spring.

Form: Rondelet

The rondelet is a classic French repeating form consisting of only 7 lines with a syllable count of 4/8/4/8/8/8/4. The rhyme scheme is AbAabbA. The three repeating A lines are the shorter lines.

The term roundelay originates from 1570, from Modern French rondelet, a diminutive of rondel meaning “short poem with a refrain,” literally “small circle”. From Old French rondel, a diminutive of rond meaning “circle, sphere,” originally an adjective from roont. The spelling developed by association with lay (noun) “poem to be sung.”

Thank you Thursday Poets Rally for the Perfect Poem Award

I nominate wordcoaster for the next award.

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50 Responses to The Breath of Spring

Mike Patrick says:

03/09/2011 at 12:52 am

Wonderful, Norma, and you found a matching picture. For a form that looks so awkward in its description, it lends itself to some lovely work.

Here in the Midwest, summer still has us in a death grip, aching for fall, but we will be dreaming of spring soon.

Reply
- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  04/09/2011 at 11:09 am
  
  Thanks Mike. I enjoyed the challenge
  
  Reply
California Ink in Motion says:

03/09/2011 at 3:09 am

This was really beautiful!
The breath of spring
sends winter-weary bones basking
Brilliant phrase. Loved it and the image choice.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  04/09/2011 at 11:10 am
  
  Thanks so much
  
  Reply
writeincolour says:

03/09/2011 at 10:23 pm

rondelet huh? nice! you have me inspired

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  07/09/2011 at 12:17 pm
  
  Aw that’s so sweet, thanks
  
  Reply
Daydreamertoo says:

04/09/2011 at 11:28 pm

Beautiful. I know you must be waiting for your spring but, it ushers in our winter here… Not looking forward to it at all. Lovely prose.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  07/09/2011 at 12:18 pm
  
  Thanks heaps
  
  Reply
zumpoems says:

07/09/2011 at 2:01 am

Beautiful, graceful and eleagant!

Reply
- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  07/09/2011 at 12:18 pm
  
  Thanks… much appreciated
  
  Reply
mindlovemisery says:

23/09/2011 at 7:10 pm

This is absolutely beautiful Norma =)

Reply
- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  23/09/2011 at 10:54 pm
  
  Aw thanks so much
  
  Reply
charlesmashburn says:

06/10/2011 at 9:56 pm

Spring is poetry. How can you not write about it. A beautiful piece!

http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/treasure/

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  07/10/2011 at 12:17 am
  
  Thanks Charles
  
  Reply
Rajlakshmi says:

07/10/2011 at 1:07 am

beautifully wriiten … loved the imagery and the form has come out really well

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  08/10/2011 at 11:20 pm
  
  Thanks for your lovely comment
  
  Reply
The Orange Tree says:

07/10/2011 at 2:31 am

spring is love, this is charming.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  08/10/2011 at 11:21 pm
  
  Yes it is, thanks
  
  Reply
clariice says:

07/10/2011 at 7:22 am

I like the injection from Spring. It’s refreshing and new.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  08/10/2011 at 11:21 pm
  
  Thanks so much clariice
  
  Reply
disjointedrhymings says:

07/10/2011 at 6:06 pm

Beautifully written and thank you for the lesson in Rondelets

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  08/10/2011 at 11:22 pm
  
  You’re welcome and thank you
  
  Reply
Jack Edwards says:

08/10/2011 at 12:03 am

Great personification of spring.

Here is my entry:
http://jackedwardspoetry.blogspot.com/2011/10/everyone.html

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  08/10/2011 at 11:22 pm
  
  Thanks Jack
  
  Reply
Sarah Johnston says:

08/10/2011 at 3:44 am

this is a great work of art and it seems that springs just adds so much to your work and it is so wonderful and lively
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/05/today%e2%80%99s-feelings/

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  08/10/2011 at 11:22 pm
  
  Thanks so much Sarah. Much appreciated
  
  Reply
Classic NYer says:

09/10/2011 at 12:23 am

This is such a sweet poem. I myself am horrible at sticking to rigid forms, and so I applaud you.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  09/10/2011 at 9:57 am
  
  Yes, they can be difficult but they make you think outside the box. Thanks heaps
  
  Reply
Bat-Ami Gordin says:

09/10/2011 at 11:01 am

i like how you say that spring is coming to take the cold away

http://zongrik.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/triolet-vi/

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  09/10/2011 at 11:16 am
  
  Thanks so much Bat-Ami
  
  Reply
Rosie says:

10/10/2011 at 12:18 am

Perfect! The imagery is maintained throughout the poem, and the idea of the breath of spring whispering hope and dreams – brilliant!
Rosie

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  10/10/2011 at 12:17 pm
  
  Thanks so much Rosie, you just made my day
  
  Reply
magher1 says:

10/10/2011 at 1:14 am

The breath of spring… I wish I could feel it too. Beautiful and fresh!

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  10/10/2011 at 12:19 pm
  
  Thanks so much magheri. Appreciated
  
  Reply
Andy says:

10/10/2011 at 11:51 am

Hello.
Beautiful poem & your image is awesome!

Thanks for sharing.

Yesterday With You

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  10/10/2011 at 12:20 pm
  
  Thanks Andy, it is a beautiful image isn’t it. Thanks for reading and commenting
  
  Reply
halfwaybetweenthegutter says:

11/10/2011 at 12:43 pm

The only word I can think of is ‘graceful’, I’m tempted to try this form myself. And I agree, the image is beautiful

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  11/10/2011 at 9:10 pm
  
  Thanks for your lovely comment
  
  Reply
Debra Ann Elliott says:

11/10/2011 at 10:47 pm

I love it. Nice picture of Spring.. Thank you for stopping by and reading my poem.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  11/10/2011 at 10:50 pm
  
  Thanks Debra
  
  Reply
zumpoems says:

12/10/2011 at 5:23 am

I had to revisit this poem as it was so beautiful. I love your total command over this poem and yet all hidden from the final product.

The use of rhyme is so natural and unobtrusive.

The use of meter is just exemplary. The odd numbered iambic lines provide such a solid framework with that fourth line being so amazing — the hypen of “winter-weary” slowing this line, making it stand out even more — and for me at least sets up that penultimate line, the sixth line to not be scanned as iambs but instead has set up an expecation for this sixth line to stand out as much as the trochaic second line and the slowed down fourth line.

It really is a gem.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  12/10/2011 at 10:49 pm
  
  Thanks so much zumpoems! It’s great when someone looks deep into your poetry and sees more than meets the eye. You’ve been so encouraging and I truly appreciate it.
  Norma
  
  Reply
Danielle Mari says:

12/10/2011 at 1:26 pm

Gorgeous! Is it terribly wrong that as we look into the eyes of oncoming Winter, I long for the breath of Spring?

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  12/10/2011 at 10:38 pm
  
  Thanks so much Danielle
  
  Reply
wordcoaster says:

13/10/2011 at 1:03 pm

Lovely form, well-executed. Thank you so much for the nomination! It means so much, especially coming from a poet such as yourself!

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  15/10/2011 at 10:02 am
  
  Thanks and you’re welcome. And thanks for the lovely compliment
  
  Reply
duncancleary says:

15/10/2011 at 8:58 am

Nice form, inspirational.

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  15/10/2011 at 10:03 am
  
  Thanks Duncan
  
  Reply
KD DeFehr says:

29/05/2012 at 8:36 am

Lovely poem and what a wonderful photo!

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- Poetry & Icecream says:
  
  29/05/2012 at 12:30 pm
  
  Thanks KD. The poem is beautiful isn’t it
  
  Reply