Showing posts with label Quatern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quatern. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

NaPoWriMo 2019: Day 17: A Quatern In Memory of Rachel

Image by Katja Just from Pixabay

Dear Rachel, you were my good friend
In many ways, your life was hard
You came from humble beginnings
Were buried in a pauper's grave

Strange that you've been gone ten years
Dear Rachel, you were my good friend
One of the few to accept me
One of the few to know my heart

Wish I could have done more to help
Though there were many miles between
Dear Rachel, you were my good friend
I have never forgotten you

I wish you hadn't died alone
Wish I could have been by your side
You were estranged from family
Dear Rachel, you were my good friend

Love,
Cie


Notes:
Written in memory of my spirited friend
Rachel Lee (September 8, 1940 - April 17, 2009) who died of complications from diabetes. 
This isn't where Rachel is buried, but she would love this place.
We will meet again in a place like this.
The poem is a Quatern. (Duh.)
I didn't end up following the NaPoWriMo prompt.

I am no longer doing the Imaginary Garden With Real Toads Poems in April prompts.
While there were a lot of great people who made me feel like I might have found "my tribe", it became clear that I really didn't belong there, so I feel it's best that I distance myself. Thank you to those of you who were kind to this freak of nature. Maybe one day Rachel and I will have tea with you in a place like the lovely memorial garden pictured above.

Friday, April 19, 2013

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Q is for Quatern


A to Z Blogging Challenge:
Q is for Quatern
by
Tempest LeTrope

A Quatern is a sixteen line French form composed of four quatrains. It is similar to the Kyrielle and the Retourne. It has a refrain that is in a different place in each quatrain. The first line of stanza one is the second line of stanza two, third line of stanza three, and fourth line of stanza four. A quatern has eight syllables per line. It does not have to be iambic or follow a set rhyme scheme.

Time
by
Tempest LeTrope

Time is not on my side
There is nothing left of my pride
Nothing remains to be gained
There are only struggles through pain

It has been a long ride
Time is not on my side
All of my dreams have now faded
Into a past disappointing and jaded

What happened to the years of my youth
Sweet lies replaced by bitter truth
Time is not on my side
Countless tears have been cried

Youth is wasted on the young
All my songs are unsung
All of my dreams have died
Time is not on my side

~Tempest~