The
Paradelle has the definitive
"one of the more demanding French fixed forms, first appearing in the langue d'oc love poetry of the eleventh century..." as its definition. In actuality the form was invented by Poet Billy Collins to parody strict forms, particularly the villanelle.
His sample paradelle, "Paradelle for Susan" was criticized as an amateurish attempt at a difficult form without ever understanding that this was, indeed, the point. Some poets also missed the parody and took the form seriously, writing their own paradelles. Others, knowing of the hoax, decided to see what they could do with a form as strict as the paradelle's. Thus, although invented as a hoax, the paradelle has taken on a life of its own."
It is a poem of four six-line stanzas in which the first and second lines, as well as the third and fourth lines of the first three stanzas, must be identical. The fifth and sixth lines, which traditionally resolve these stanzas, must use all the words from the preceding lines and only those words. Similarly, the final stanza must use every word from all the preceding stanzas and only those words.
There is no particular rhyme scheme for the paradelle.
Quote:
Schematic:
A
A
B
B
b(a)x
a(b)x
C
C
D
D
d(c)x
c(d)x
E
E
F
F
f(e)x
e(f)x
a(x)
b(x)
c(x)
d(x)
e(x)
f(x)
Where "A" - "F" are the repeated 1&2 and 3&4 lines of the first, second & third stanza, "a" through "f" is the repeated words (lines 1-4) that appear in the last stanza - "x" represents repeated words.
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Quote:
Schematic 2 (written)
Stanzas: 1, 2 & 3:
Line 1: a new line
Line 2: repeats line 1
Line 3: a new line
Line 4: repeats line 3
Line 5: Uses some of the words from line 1 and line 3. (with no extra words added)
Line 6: Uses the remaining words from line 1 and line 3.(with no extra words added)
Fourth and Last Stanza:
Lines 1 to 6: uses ALL of the words from lines 5 and 6 of the first 3 stanzas with NO extra words.
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example by
Sally Roberts
Beneath The Dripping Cypress Trees
'Tis the breeze beneath the cypress trees,
'Tis the breeze beneath the cypress trees.
Where shady branches bend and bow,
Where shady branches bend and bow.
Beneath the bend and branches breeze,
Where the cypress' bow 'tis shady trees.
Ink like stains of sap fold down,
Ink like stains of sap fold down.
Brown and dripping tears that keep,
Brown and dripping tears that keep.
Sap-like ink and stains of brown,
Tears that fold keep dripping down.
Will such variegated colors blend,
Will such variegated colors blend.
Away within envelope of leaves,
Away within envelope of leaves.
Of such colors envelope within,
Variegated leaves away will blend.
Within the sap 'tis shady brown,
And keep the breeze of that fold down.
Variegated stains away will blend,
Where colors bow and branches bend.
Tears of ink envelope like leaves,
Beneath such dripping cypress trees.
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