Rondeaux Doublé (Aka The Grand Rondeau)

Air Affair: Cheating With Mechanical Lungs Lover

No sense in denying it. I’m having a kinky affair with a non-human. I couldn’t help myself. The knight in mechanical shining armor swooped in and scooped me up from certain death. Doesn’t mean I love him and that makes me sad.

Enthralled by rhythm, by your plastic’s hose embrace, My lungs, once free, now follow machine’s decree, A cacophony of air, both forced and frail, A albatross lifeline, yet a constant reminder as I inhale.

Human breath, a gift so pure, so dear, A heartbreak shuffle of life, touched by fear, A precious gift, so often taken for granted sway, While I yearn for its ease, my lungs are trapped in the machine’s sway.

Oh, to breathe like I once did, without a second thought, To feel the air fill my chest, uninhibited, untaught, To let go of this lung life giver, in its metal embrace, And know the freedom of a simple breath, a natural grace.

You, my portable pulmonary pal are keeping me alive, For that I am and always will be eternally grateful, I want you. I need you. So how is it that I cannot love you? Two out of three still makes my Meat Loaf loving heart weep.

I can’t breathe without you in my life, I can’t breathe without you in my life, I can’t breathe without you in my life, I can’t breathe without you in my life, I can’t breathe without you in my life, Enthralled by rhythm, by plastic’s hose constant embrace.

Contemporary French Rondeaux Doublé Poems

Normally, when talking about old French poem forms, I like to begin from their birth which almost always sprang forth in Medieval times. Normally, I don’t begin with my own efforts to write in such a complex and difficult poem format. But these are not normal times for anyone alive today.

Contemporary French poets use the Rondeaux Doublé form, but they are also experimenting with new ways and evolving. Some modern poets have used the form to explore contemporary themes, such as technology and globalization. Others have used the form to create playful and humorous poems. Some like myself are applying new themes in these uncertain and challenging times.

Some of my favorite contemporary French Rondeaux Doublés I’m currently reading are:

• “Le rondeau de la mélancolie” by Jean-Pierre Siméon
• “Le rondeau de l’amour” by Philippe Jaccot
• “Le rondeau de l’espoir” by Françoise Sagan
• John Ashbery (1927–2017): Ashbery was a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who wrote a number of them including several Rondeaux Doublés.
• Lyn Hejinian (born 1944): She too has known for her work in written a number of Roneaux Doubles, several on political themes.
• Kathleen Ossip (born 1958): Her themes are often historical or mythological and quite interesting.

Rules Are Sometimes Meant To Be Less Rigid?

I believe in learning traditional rules first to establish a foundation. After that I also think it’s important to play with different rhyme schemes. I see some contemporary poets changing the second quatrain and the quintet rhyme schemes. Others are using enjambment throughout their poems.

Challenges In All French Rondeaux Doublé Poem Forms

It’s already a difficult mastery of rhyme and rhythm. Adding any enjambment makes it even more challenging. I encourage others to remember that difficult is also fun and rewarding in poetry. When written well, either contemporary or traditional in format it’s all still beautiful and moving.

Enjambment in case you aren’t familiar with the term, is simply lines without expected normal punctuation.

Rondeaux Double Backstory

Born in the 14th century, this poem form spread like wildfire when Guillaume de Machaut went “Medieval viral” in true troubadour spoken word performances. He was big on fancy language and themes of love, nature, and spirituality. His “Ma douce Dame, tant j’ai d’amour pour vous” My Sweet Lady, I Have So Much Love for You” certainly fits the romantic side of the times he was living in.

However, it was Charles d’Orléans’s “Je languis en espoir” “I Languish in Hope.” I personally think his poetry was more melancholy and introspective. He explored themes of loss and longing. His poems had more depth to emotions that dig deeper into the poetic audience’s souls.

Note: Later in history, Clément Marot is also given credit in the 16th century for this fixed poem form.

Old French Rondeaux Doublé Rules

1. Total lines: Rondeaux Doublé consists of 16 lines
2. It is often octosyllabic free verse
3. Stanzas: Four quatrains, typically four-line stanzas
4. Rhyme Scheme: The strictly followed rhyme scheme is: ABAB-ABBA-ABAB-ABAB
5. First and last lines of the poem, as well as the last line of the second quatrain, are repeated as refrains throughout the poem
6. Refrains are the most important lines of the poem
7. Refrains express the central theme or idea
8. Refrain is generally BABABA (with some variations)
9. Enjambment is often used (Note: For this site for audio listeners clarity I overide that as it can lead to confusion)

More Tips For Writing Rondeaux Doublé Poems

• Go bold with figurative language: Metaphors, similes, and other imagery bring forth more touching emotions in your readers
• Don’t be shy: Mix things up when it comes to sentence lengths (avoid mind numbing monotony
• Emphasize the refrains: The refrains are the heart of the Rondeaux Doublé, so make sure they stand out and resonate with the overall theme of the poem.
• Embrace your musical side: Rhythm and flow in poetry is important, make your words a melody to add dept.
• It’s a matter of your heart: Refrains are where your heart lies and can make or break your French Rondeaux Doublé beat in the minds of your audience

Above all be brave enough to try your poetic hand with this poem form. It will challenge you to up your level of precision and poetic word artistry. Good luck!

“Fear not the Rondeaux Doublé. I find it helpful to express deep feelings that otherwise might get trapped in the health clown car of dealing with a life crowded with too much mental and physical stress and worry.

Embracing a poetic challenge, allows our minds to take a break from the things life in the fast lane throws us. It’s another way to manage anxiety and stress.” Jerilee Wei © 2023