And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep
Lots of things still to achieve
Bills to pay, promises to keep
Experiences and challenges

See the world, flowers to blossom
And miles to go before I sleep
Winter, spring, summer, autumn
All the seasons to be enjoyed

Come rain or shine, thunder or calm
Snowy morning, autumn evening
And miles to go before I sleep
Play with grandchildren, that’s a dream

High tech and new discoveries
New sciences and languages
Stories to write, poems to read
And miles to go before I sleep

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: NaPoWriMo: Day 30 – Final Poem by Elizabeth

Z is for ZaniLa Rhyme

The ZaniLa Rhyme, a form created by Laura Lamarca, consists 4 lines per stanza.
The rhyme scheme for this form is abcb and a syllable count of 9/7/9/9 per stanza.
Line 3 contains internal rhyme and is repeated in each odd numbered stanza.
Even stanzas contain the same line but swapped.
The ZaniLa Rhyme has a minimum of 3 stanzas and no maximum poem length.

TELL ME I’M YOUR BELLE FOREVERMORE

Speak to me like there’s no tomorrow
Lead me to the light of hope
Tell me I’m your belle forevermore
Let’s have an exchange so I can cope

Kiss me like when we were in Paris
As we viewed Monet’s garden
I’m your belle forevermore, tell me
Strolled along the Seine like in heaven

We drink to our health and consenting
We count our blessing as well
Tell me I’m your belle forevermore
Like lavender, daisies and bluebell

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: last day of NaPoWriMo and Zip, Zap, Zoom! #atozchallenge

Fighting Through the End

Words: friends, time, mistakes, fighting, through, end

Time and time again I’ve made mistakes
Lessons I should really learned but not
Falling through the same holes
Falling through the same promise
Falling through the same allure

Friends and family are always there
Supporting me and accepting me
I promise to be good, I always swear
Then temptations come I pay with a fee

I’ve got to be strong, I know that now
I’ve got to keep going and I vow
And me, fighting through the end
Yes, fighting through the end

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: NaPoWriMo: Day 29 by Elizabeth

Y is for Yoyo

A poetic form created by Lencio Dominic Rodrigues, the Lento is named after it’s creator, taken from his first name Lencio and rhymed to Cento, an existing form of poetry.

A Lento consists of two quatrains with a fixed rhyme scheme of abcb, defe as the second and forth lines of each stanza must rhyme. To take it a step further, but not required, try rhyming the first and third lines as well as the second and forth lines of each stanza in this rhyming pattern: abab, cdcd. The fun part of this poem is thrown in here as all the FIRST words of each verse should rhyme. There is no fixed syllable structure to the Lento, but keeping a good, flowing rhythm is recommended.

like a yoyo, you play with it, make it spin
suchlike it, there’s always a string attached
bike and roller-skate and other games, such fun
hike, climb, run, hide-and-seek and some match

back to yoyo and games we used to play
track and field, football and volleyball
knack for it or not, doesn’t really matter
jack of all trades, depending on the call

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Just one day left in NaPoWriMo and Y – You, Your, You’re and You Are “AWESOME”

NaPoWriMo: Day 28 – The Empress

Words: ride, lost, tide, broke, water, still, divide, drop, remain

I was an Empress in my other life
the time when people were getting hungry
stole some money from the Emperor
gave them to the poor, the lost and the needy
I did this secretly, of course
with just some trusted knights
we rode and wandered the streets
divided some food and money to the people
one time there was a storm
the tide was high, the dam broke
water was everywhere
nothing remained of people’s properties
we tried to help as much as we could
the kingdom dropped what they were doing
to save as many people as possible
a horrible experience indeed
I still had nightmares about it

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: NaPoWriMo: Day 28 by Elizabeth

X is for Xylophone

The La’libertas, a 22-line (4/6/4/6/2) poetic form created by Laura Lamarca. The stanza rules are as follows:

Stanza 1 – rhyme scheme ABBA, 8 syllables per line.
Stanza 2 – Free verse, 6 lines ONLY
Stanza 3 – Rhyme scheme BAAB, 8 syllables per line.
Stanza 4 – Free verse, 6 lines ONLY
Couplet – Italian (Any language acceptable)

How the La’libertas for got its name is from the word “libertas” which is Latin for “liberty” and “La” is Laura Lamarca’s signature.

ballad over a xylophone
striking a row of wooden bars
like the sound of stringed sitar
he sang in a rich baritone

just like his heart
his voice rich and meaty
singing to his dear
who’s all ears to him
on this serenade
such joy to watch

the xylophone’s sweet melody
with the trombone and tambourine
appreciating music with grin
a night to remember with glee

as we walk
by the silvery moon
we held hands
ah! this is life
rich in music
rich in love

ang kapangyarihan ng pag-ibig
ikaw at ako magpakailanman*

* The power of love
you and me forever

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Happy 28th! Day of NaPoWriMo and #atozchallenge — Starts with X!

W is for Wrapped Refrain

The Wrapped Refrain, created by Jan Turner, consists of 2 or more stanzas of 6 lines each; Meter: 8,8,8,8,12,12 and Rhyme Scheme: a,a,b,b,c,c.

Refrain rule: In each stanza the first 4 syllables (or 4 single-syllable words) in the first line must be the last 4 syllables (or 4 single-syllable words) at the end of the last line. This is what wraps each stanza with a repeated refrain …thus, the Wrapped Refrain.

Optional: The first stanza refrain and last stanza refrain can be joined (or loosely joined) together for the title of the poem.

DON’T WORRY, LIFE IS BRILLIANT

Don’t worry about me, I’m fine
Without question I’m always thine
Things you can’t control, don’t worry
Worry about things like our tea
And if there’s a problem, we’ll solve it coolly
Just be happy and contend with life, don’t worry

Life is brilliant and fun as well
Giving love a pride of huge swell
Together we face challenges
Whooped into the sea as we plunged
Swim with the fish, have a picnic by the seafront
Dance by the light of the full moon, life is brilliant

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: 27th Day of NaPoWriMo and Woohoo! Almost survived the #atozchallenge!

A Phantom Lover

Words: music, defenses, sensation, tender, truth, imagination, night, listen,

Listen to the tender music of the night
Such sensation as the truth emanates
Imagination runs wild as to why
A phantom lover found in the wood

All the defences used for her plight
She lies there as if she for him awaits
She was a sight of awe as we sigh
By the tree which produces rosewood

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Photo Challenge #110 and NaPoWriMo: Day 26 by Elizabeth

V is for Villanelle

The villanelle, like the other French forms, does have many of the same properties: plenty of rhyme and repetition. This French form was actually adapted from Italian folk songs (villanella) about rural life. One of the more famous contemporary villanelles is “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” by Dylan Thomas.

The villanelle consists of five tercets and a quatrain with line lengths of 8-10 syllables. The first and third lines of the first stanza become refrains that repeat throughout the poem. It looks like this:

A(1)
b
A(2)

a
b
A(1)

a
b
A(2)

a
b
A(1)

a
b
A(2)

a
b
A(1)
A(2)

VIOLET
Violet is such a pretty flower
Springing up by the roadside
The sun is making it brighter

Its aroma makes me calmer
The countryside is beautified
Violet is such a pretty flower

Violet is such a splendour
Like being in heaven, I sighed
The sun is making it brighter

He gave it to me to ease my anger
He said sorry and we both cried
Violet is such a pretty flower

A poem was made and I’m the author
With all the inspiration it provides
The sun is making it brighter

Violet is such a charmer
I always put it by my bedside
Violet is such a pretty flower
The sun is making it brighter

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: 26th day of NaPoWriMo and Victory Lap at the #AtoZChallenge !

U is for Unknown

The Florette, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more 4-line stanzas.

Rhyme scheme: a,a,b,a
Meter: 8,8,8,12
Fourth line requirement of internal (b) rhyme scheme, on syllable 8.

Like the outgrowing of a small flower, the forth line of each stanza is longer, and enwraps the previous lines. Line #4 requires an internal rhyme scheme that rhymes the eighth syllable with the end of line #3, and continues to add on four more syllables than the other lines so that the fourth line ends rhyming with lines #1 and #2.

what is this fear, that of unknown?
ignorance and not being shown
venturing out is not that bad
new experience for us to add, so let’s not moan

some delicate juggling process
we don’t know and we have to guess
trial and error is required
anything to make us inspired, don’t need stress

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Happy final Monday of NaPoWriMo and Ultima Hora – The last week of the #atozchallenge is here!