Paradelle Poems deceive readers and writers alike to great effect, as the finished product can be quite illuminating. From their very inception, paradelle poems have misled their audience and are complex and tricky in execution. But the very same strict nature it’s known for can allow creativity and technique to flourish.
Billy Collins, a former United State Poet Laureate, brought the style into the public eye. He claimed it was invented in eleventh century France, and many journalists and critics believed him. His own example of the poem was criticized by many as an amateurish attempt at the form. Little did they know, but that happened to be the entire point.
Collins had, in fact, completely fabricated the poem’s origin. He had invented it as a parody of a villanelle, hence the name: Paradelle. He had meant for it to expose the needlessly strict and rigid nature of such poems. Ironically, the paradelle has stuck around, and, despite its humorous origins as a parody form, it remains as a good way for writers to challenge themselves.
Paradelles are deceptively difficult in their execution. They consist of four stanzas with six lines per stanza. The first three stanzas follow a similar pattern. The second line is a repetition of the first, and the fourth line is a repetition of the third. Therefore, the first two lines should be exactly the same, and the second pair of lines should be the same. The last two lines in each stanza are completely new, and they should be entirely made up of the words from the first and third lines.
This means that there are no added words, and no words left out. Learning to work within these confines to create beautiful lines is incredibly difficult, but very rewarding. The fourth stanza comprises all of the words from the last two lines from the three previous stanzas. Once again, not a single word should be forgotten.
There is no restriction on rhyme, syllable count, or meter. The strict nature of the form provides enough difficulty for any writer looking to challenge themselves. This style allows poets to fully experiment with syntax and the beauty of language. Simple tricks like replacing certain words to change the meaning can make the task of writing a paradelle much less daunting.
If you choose to embark on the task of writing a paradelle, recognize that you will need to rewrite lines and add or subtract words that do or do not work. This form has an aspect of trial and error to it. It may not be perfect the first time, but with practice, beauty in its repetitiveness can emerge.
Paradelle poems have evolved from a parody of old, strict poetry into a challenging form that stretches the limits of syntax and language. Even in the most restrictive of environments, creativity still finds a way to shine through.
Voices in the wind
Horrid are the words in the wind.
Horrid are the words in the wind.
Cracking cold through gray teeth.
Cracking cold through gray teeth.
Words are cold through the cracking teeth
In the gray, horrid wind
Rotting whispers growl through the ground.
Rotting whispers growl through the ground.
Fill your head with a rocky soil.
Fill your head with a rocky soil.
The whispers through your head growl,
Fill a rocky ground and rotting soil.
Feel your feet tread through mud.
Feel your feet tread through mud.
The voices know all your freezing blood.
The voices know all your freezing blood.
Feel all the voices tread through blood,
Know your freezing feet.
Know all the horrid words,
the ground freezing cold.
Fill your feet with a rocky mud tread.
Teeth are rotting as gray soil,
Feel the whispers cracking through your blood.
Voices in the wind growl through your head.
