Rondel

A rondel is a verse form originating in French lyrical poetry, later used in the verse of other languages as well, such as English and Romanian. It is a variation of the rondeau consisting of two quatrains followed by a quintet (13 lines total) or a sestet (14 lines total). The rondel was invented in the 14th century, and is arguably better suited to the French language than to English. It is not to be confused with the roundel, a similar verse form with repeating refrain.

The first two lines of the first stanza are refrains, repeating as the last two lines of the second stanza and the third stanza. (Alternately, only the first line is repeated at the end of the final stanza). For instance, if A and B are the refrains, a rondel will have a rhyme scheme of ABba abAB abbaA(B)

The meter is open, but typically has eight syllables.

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondel_(poem)>

A French form consisting of 13 lines: two quatrains and a quintet,**

rhyming as follows: ABba abAB abbaA. The capital letters are the refrains, or repeats.

Pasted from <http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/rondel.html>

**Author's note or two quatrains and a SESTET if the two refrain option is chosen.

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