Rondelet



The Rondelet (or roundelay) is a brief verse form that originated in French poetry.

Form
The Rondelet consists of one stanza, made up of seven lines. It contains a refrain, a strict rhyme scheme and a distinct meter pattern.

The word is the diminutive of rondel, a similar, longer verse form. This is the basic structure:

Line 1 :: A—four syllables Line 2 :: b—eight syllables Line 3 :: A—repeat of line one Line 4 :: a—eight syllables Line 5 :: b—eight syllables Line 6 :: b—eight syllables Line 7 :: A—repeat of line one

The refrained lines should contain the same words, however substitution or different use of punctuation on the lines has been common.

Etymology
The term roundelay originates from 1570, from Modern French rondelet, a diminutive of rondel meaning "short poem with a refrain," literally "small circle". From Old French rondel, a diminutive of rond meaning "circle, sphere," originally an adjective from roont. The spelling developed by association with lay (noun) "poem to be sung."