In my continuing series of form contests here is my next set. The title is the form to use and the prompt for your entries. If you do not follow the prompt and the form your entry will be removed
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| Rhyme RoyalRhyme Royal - sometimes known as the Troilus stanza - has 7 lines of 10 syllables each (normally iambic pentameters) and a rhyming scheme of ababbcc.
The archaic spelling rime royal is still sometimes used. This is an old variety of stanza which goes right back to Chaucer, who used it for his Troilus and Criseyde - hence the form's alternative name. So when looking for a subject for my example, it occurred to me that the word "rime" also means "frost". (In fact, its precise meaning to a meteorologist is "ice deposited by freezing of supercooled fog".) I therefore re-wrote a well-known carol in rime royal:
Good King WenceslasOn Boxing Day King Wenceslas looked out
And saw his realm was blanketed with snow.
Indoors was where to be, without a doubt!
Still snow flakes floated to the ground below
Where deep drifts sparkled in the moon’s soft glow.
Then, scarcely visible by lunar light,
A peasant gathering firewood came in sight.
By this the monarch’s heart was moved to pity.
His instincts told him something was amiss.
While he was king, no man in Prague’s fair city
Should have to spend a holiday like this.
He must effect a metamorphosis!
He called his trusty page and bade him give
The peasant’s name, and say where he might live.
“His home’s three miles from here, your majesty –
St Agnes fountain, way out in the sticks.”
“Right, bring me food and wine for his high tea,
And for his hearth some pine logs – five or six.
If this man’s broke, that’s something we can fix!
So when we reach his humble dwelling, we’ll
Make sure he has both warm fire and square meal.”
Well-laden with their gifts, the pair went forth
Through wind and snow and rain and hail and sleet,
A blizzard raging from the arctic north.
The page soon wilted, since he was effete.
Quoth Wenceslas, “Watch where I put my feet
Then put yours in my footprints, and behold,
You’ll find your blood will not run half so cold.”
He was determined both males should get through
Despite the weather being so unpleasant.
A man must do what he feels called to do.
Onward they trudged, to take their Christmas present,
And make the day for one half-frozen peasant.
So let us all, like this obscure Czech king,
Go extra miles to do the decent thing.
A few of the lines have an extra unstressed syllable, but that's
OK. If Chaucer got away with it, so can I.
Now all we need is a new tune.
Related forms The ballade royal is made up of rhyme royal stanzas. But rhyme royal is nothing to do with chant royal (which is another variant of the ballade).
Rhyme royal is a close relative of ottava rima.
Notable Rhymes Royal and Royal Rhymers As well as Chaucer (see above), the form was used by Spenser, Shakespeare (A Lover's Complaint) and also by King James I of Scotland. It used to be thought this is why it was called "royal". The academics have now decided otherwise, consigning this belief to the category of "things that aren't true but ought to be".
In more recent centuries, rhyme royal has become less popular, but has nevertheless been used by such as Wordsworth (Resolution and Independence), Auden (Letter to Lord Byron) and Masefield.
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© Bob Newman 2004. All rights reserved.
| Rules
No Chat Speak
Must follow the form given
No Sticky caps
No cutting or suicide poems
This contest is for all ages so no abuse, adult, or erotica type poems
Proper spelling and grammar
I reserve the rights to:
End the contest at any time
Extend the contest
Remove entries without warning
Change or add to the rules
So it would be a good idea to check back often, Read the entire contest page.
Let the muse inspire you and Have fun. HM will be based on entries and if you have a prewrite that fits the form. message me and I will edit the contest to allow for prewrites
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Contest is Over
Contest Winners
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by CitrineSunrise
28 lines, 4 comments,
on Aug 14 1:19 AM 2008
 Gold trophy winner
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Commented on
by judge. Prewrite
[ remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 4504823, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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It is a race from work, to find a drink
At home I start searching, bottom to top
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Commented on
by judge.
[ remove]
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I walked that road, past the emerald trees,
Down the garden where streams of silver flow,
•
Commented on
by judge.
[ remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 4499131, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Nothing is as known, brightness should prevail,
but shadows brush the suns and moons ignite;
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Commented on
by judge.
[ remove]
Entries [10]
1 - 10 of 10
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The magician pulls a rabbit from hat,
smiles and bright eyes on the children’s faces.
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Commented on
by judge.
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Silly little puppy, just needs to play
running 'round the backyard, chasing a ball
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Commented on
by judge.
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Oft times in dreams I see the face of thee
So beautiful that inwardly I sigh
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Commented on
by judge.
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
1 - 9 of 9
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Bronze trophy winner
Scott
I just read the contest again..."Dreams" 
Uh oh... 
I will open it up again for you to enter. 
Adding your comment:
