A roundelay is a short lyric poem or song built around a repeated refrain, often with a light, musical, circular feel. The repeated lines may return at regular intervals, giving the piece a sense of movement that comes back to its starting point.
Writers use roundelay to create emphasis, memorability, and songlike rhythm. The form is sometimes loosely defined, so the exact pattern can vary.
Example
The river turns the meadow round,
The river turns the meadow round;
It sings to stone and reeds it found,
The river turns the meadow round.