Long Roundelay Poems

.                          NOW

Well, GI Jack is welcome back, he left his...

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Song from Aella: Under the Willow Tree, or, Minstrel's Song
by Thomas Chatterton, age 17 or younger
modernization/translation by Michael R. Burch

MYNSTRELLES SONGE ("MINSTREL'S SONG")

O! sing unto my roundelay,
O! drop the briny tear with me,
Dance no more...

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November second two thousand twenty two...
abuzz with Autumnal thrum

Approximately six weeks since August sum
er re: lazy dog days witnessed lolling about 
sipping cocktails, whose primary ingredient rum
pulled and sated esophageal tract nsync 
with thirstily quaffing...

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October twenty third two thousand twenty one...02:44:06 PM
Eastern Standard Time abuzz auld Durin 
(ya know whit I'm Tolkien about 
Elder days long regarding) Autumnal thrum –

The perfect balm to avoid feeling glum
supine upon greensward 
I...

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November first two thousand nineteen...
abuzz with Autumnal thrum

Divine myriad biota amidst
heavenly Lily of the valley
(Convallaria majalis),
he didst imaginatively greet
Edenic heavenly terra
incognita immeasurably sweet

nature's ensemble proffering
Gaia's quintessential orchestration
resplendent sensational treat
natural splendour regaling,
this fellow wayfarer
happenstance gifted autochthonous...

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'Course as a grim teller of tall tales,
(albeit poetic) reasonable rhyming
quasi roundelay I readily admitted to feign
cuz, stringing words together with
pride and prejudice plus
sense and sensibility, jocularity,
and conformity I dissed deign
(spoiler alert) iamb, trochaic,

dactylic, and...

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Some are clearly Buddhist,
they sing not much, but drone
and chant, they do not flaunt.

Some are brightly painted egos,
their songs bootie-calls from empty nests
where they preen melodically rampant.

Others strain both throats and tongues
bend a tune to...

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Little Al came out to play
With triolet and roundelay.
Boisterous John with resounding whoop,
Skipped along with stick and hoop.
That night when John lay down to sleep,
He fell into a slumber deep,
While Al lay restless in his...

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A stellar sight delights the eyes
when comes the night from passing day
and ends sun’s starring matinée
with drama of the darkened skies.

The world assumes nocturnal guise
as songbirds hush their roundelay.
A stellar sight delights the eyes
when comes...

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The day you left my world just fell away,
No hope or will to face each brand new day,
Nor reason to linger awhile in bed
I cannot fix the heart you left for dead.

In ev’rything a memory...

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No breath of air to ease my heart,
No reason found to be a part,
The time has come to close my eyes
As my soul goes where the raven flies.

Outstretched I feel my fingernails
Join with dark wings...

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Schmetterlinge im Tanz 
Sommerreigen am Nachmittag
Mosaik der Natur 

Von Ferne der Ruf eines Kuckucks
Aus seinem unsichtbarem Versteck 

-------------------------------------------

The dance of Butterflies 
Summer roundelay in the afternoon 
A mosaic of nature 

From the distance the cry...

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Beneath the ocean wave he falls,
His duty done as night-time calls,
I raise my eyes from cauldron spoon,
My spirit lifts to greet the moon.

The darker powers reign each night,
Yet know no fear nor feel no fright,
She’s...

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