Thursday, June 13, 2013

And Now, Before Kneeling

Rondelet. A cute, wistful little poetic form, introduced by Tony Maude for dVerse FormForAll. The repetition made me think of the monotony of life, which made me think of growing older, which led me to write this cute, wistful, somewhat religious, strangely humorous piece about getting old. The knees go first! Took some slight liberties with the form--didn't worry much about syllable count, and used slant rhymes. And left out a word in the last refrain. Tony said I could! 

And Now, Before Kneeling

And now, before kneeling
I think about the strain.
And now, before kneeling
I get that old-time feeling;
I’m not as young as I have been.
What will it take to rise again,
Now before kneeling?
Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

31 comments:

  1. brudbergJune 13, 2013 at 3:52 PM

    Wonderful.. you better think before kneeling.. consequences can cost you dearly, It was a fun poetry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 13, 2013 at 5:17 PM

      I can still get up, but I have to actually set my mind to it nowadays!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJune 13, 2013 at 3:58 PM

    There's enough of the rondelet left here to recognise the form. I love the sentiment in the poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 13, 2013 at 5:19 PM

      Thanks Tony, it's good to know I did't butcher it too much!

      Delete
  3. Brian MillerJune 13, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    smiles...depends on how bad your knees are...on weathery days it might take me a second....the old time feeling reminds me of the church i went to as a child....smiles...cool use of the form man...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 13, 2013 at 5:21 PM

      Thanks Brian--I'm glad you caught the old-time church reference. There is a deeper reading of this poem beyond just the physical decline, but I didn't want to make too much of it. You know, how faith sometimes declines, it takes more to kneel, more to rise, that kind of thing.

      Delete
  4. Janine BolléeJune 13, 2013 at 4:54 PM

    Gotta think ahead every time :-)
    and crawl to the nearest upright.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 13, 2013 at 5:22 PM

      Thanks Aprille--I see my young kids drop down on their knees, bounce back up, like it's nothing, and I think--One day, you'll regret it!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousJune 13, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    Oh I know how you're feeling. Great use of the form.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 13, 2013 at 5:24 PM

      Thanks Marya--as I get older I have to think a little more about what I'm doing. Sports and work have leveled a toll on me!

      Delete
  6. UnknownJune 13, 2013 at 6:04 PM

    I prefer to squat than kneel, but not sure it makes anything any easier!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 14, 2013 at 9:24 AM

      Thanks Rowan--no, probably not. Squatting or kneeling, we still have to get up!

      Delete
  7. ScarletJune 13, 2013 at 6:07 PM

    I can feel the strain on my knees ~ I think you were very creative with your form and refrain ~ Love it ~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 14, 2013 at 9:28 AM

      Thanks Grace--I still have some good years left in me!

      Delete
  8. MaryJune 13, 2013 at 7:34 PM

    Ha, I hear you on this, Nico. Rising isn't as easy as it used to be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 14, 2013 at 9:28 AM

      Thanks Mary, it's good to know I'm not alone down here.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousJune 13, 2013 at 10:28 PM

    yes, to the point. I love how you've incorporated the day into your form or the form into your day.... the question becomes more pertinent by the hour. : ) an enjoyable read.

    ReplyDelete
  10. rallentandaJune 14, 2013 at 1:37 AM

    Creak Groaaan LOL!Don't believe a word of it:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 14, 2013 at 9:29 AM

      Thanks R.--no matter what I believe, the knees have a way of convincing me otherwise!

      Delete
  11. TCPCJune 14, 2013 at 5:14 AM

    oh yes! these feelings creep in! well put

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 14, 2013 at 9:30 AM

      Thanks Akila, I'm delighted that you liked it.

      Delete
  12. Rosemary Nissen-WadeJune 14, 2013 at 6:01 AM

    'cute, wistful, somewhat religious, strangely humorous ' - so it is! I love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJune 14, 2013 at 9:34 AM

      Thanks Rosemary--I tried to let the form determine my direction here, so I'm glad you thought it worked out ok!

      Delete
  13. SusanJune 14, 2013 at 12:43 PM

    Ah, yes, I am getting there. And the harder it gets the more I notice how often I was called to do it! Thank you for visiting my Rondolet too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousJune 14, 2013 at 12:47 PM

    heh, what a great approach on the 'age'-subject. it's so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  15. ClaudiaJune 14, 2013 at 12:49 PM

    ah that made me think of my mom..she has big problems with her knees...and surely thinks twice about both, the kneeling and what it takes to rise again..

    ReplyDelete
  16. kelvin s.m.June 14, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    ...before kneeling has such a sad undertone of surrendering before our Lord's behest... aging is one stage in life i wish i can escape through... but we are aging everyday so def the wish is non sense... ha... smiles... your almost rondelet is really entertaining & full of insights... loved it! smiles...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Vanessa Victoria KilmerJune 14, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    Very humorous because it's so very true.

    ReplyDelete
  18. RMPJune 14, 2013 at 10:54 PM

    I enjoyed your little intro—the trail that led to writing this piece. it definitely was a cute little number; made me smile.

    ReplyDelete
  19. dragyonflyJune 17, 2013 at 10:37 PM

    very nice rondelet, and sentiments are universal to us who are over the age of 20...

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)