(Happy New Year one and all! I’m going to try and write more poetry this year, so the first three days (at least) of 2022 will be poems. The form of these three poems is from France and called a Kyrielle.)
Dear friends, please stop and breathe the flowers;
Enjoy their many shades of smell.
Don’t waste, but while away, the hours;
Yet hear the knelling of the bell.
Forget the busy city scene;
Its cluttered mess, its noise, its yell.
Dream instead of landscapes clean;
Yet hear the knelling of the bell.
The hope of birds to build their nests,
Another brood to sing and tell
Of how our planet’s truly blessed.
Yet hear the knelling of the bell.
Far quicker than you think can be
The world will worsen into hell.
By all means dance your footfalls free
Yet hear the knelling of the bell.
To hear the poem read aloud click HERE.
Seize the day!
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And New Year’s Day at that!
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Health & Happiness in 2022 Bruce!

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Thanks Cindy. And to you and yours from one wet place to another!
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That’s a beautiful poem, even through the saddening refrain. The French format is new to me, but it apparently is a classic style. It reminds me strongly of Matthew Arnold.
Wish you a very happy New Year.
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Thanks Uma. And happy New Year to you too! The Kyrielle is based on the Roman Catholic Liturgy (the Kyrie = Greek for Lord have mercy). The Lord have mercy was repeated after each trope was announced, e.g. For the times I have been jealous, Lord have mercy, etc. The French turned it into a non-religious poetic form.
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Happy New Year Bruce….that last stanza…I think that is the right word…puts it all in perspective.
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Max – you’re not born yesterday! Thank you – means a lot!
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The poem has a melancholy rhythm that really appeals to me, but an uplifting sentiment of appreciating the moment and what we have!
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Thanks Andrea. Yes, I like especially the recurring refrain.
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Poems are nice, and so are bells.
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My elementary teacher used to say “Hell’s bells!” and I always thought he was swearing!
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I bet he heard them tolling off in the distance and was trying to warn you.
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