I wrote What’s in the Box? for the W3 Prompt #136. Where the Poet-of-the-Week, Lady Lee, invites us to compose a rondelet.
What’s in the Box?
What’s in the box?
Can’t open it till Christmas Day;
Is it a gift of Christmas socks?
What’s in the box?
Perhaps some candy or mint chocs?
Or a new pair of slip-on crocs?
What’s in the box?
Lesley Scoble, December 2024
The Rondelet Rules
To read details of the Rondelet prompt and guidelines, please click here
Compose a Rondelet.
Rondelet
The rondelet contains a single septet (a verse of seven lines); a refrain; a strict rhyme scheme; and a distinct meter pattern. This is the basic structure:
- Line 1: A—four syllables (refrain)
- Line 2: b—eight syllables
- Line 3: A—repeat of line one (refrain)
- Line 4: a—eight syllables
- Line 5: b—eight syllables
- Line 6: b—eight syllables
- Line 7: A—repeat of line one (refrain
The refrained lines should contain the same words, however substitution or different use of punctuation on the lines has been common.
Post Script
Did you notice the deliberate mistake?
Since publishing this post, I’ve learnt that my Rondelet didn’t follow the rules! I didn’t read the full prompt guidelines! The full guidelines (see above) dictate that the rhyme scheme is A, b, a, A, b, b, A.
The poetry form has only seven lines. I wrote my first attempt with eight lines! 😱(since cut out).
The rewrite
In this rewrite the errant fifth and sixth line are now rhyming b, b, instead of a, a. That’s nice and clear now, isn’t it?
I now present the poem in the correct format, below.
What’s in the box?
Can’t open it till Christmas Day;
Is it a gift of Christmas socks?
What’s in the box?
A Spanish holiday? Olé!
Or a festive elf called Godfray?
What’s in the box?
Lesley Scoble, December 2024
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thank you, Lady Lee, for your inspiring prompt.
Thank you, David, the Skeptics Kaddish for hosting.
Thank you, dear reader, for reading!
Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; mime artist; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.
LesleyScoble.com 
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