Rondeau Poems

“Refrain and return—fixed music in a circle of lines.”

TitleAuthorType of Poem
A SongJames Whitcomb RileyRondeau
Aperotos ErosAlgernon Charles SwinburneRondeau
As We Look Back (Rondeau)Ella Wheeler WilcoxRondeau
At a Dogs GraveAlgernon Charles SwinburneRondeau
At Husking TimeEmily Pauline JohnsonRondeau
At SeaAlgernon Charles SwinburneRondeau
At The End Of The RoadMadison Julius CaweinRondeau
At The Fall Of DewMadison Julius CaweinRondeau
Au Tombeau de BanvilleAlgernon Charles SwinburneRondeau
BabyhoodAlgernon Charles SwinburneRondeau

Understanding Rondeau

A rondeau is a fixed French form built on two rhymes and a repeating refrain (the rentrement). Its musical return gives the poem a memorable circularity.

Core characteristics of the rondeau:

  • Structure: Traditionally 15 lines in 3 stanzas (5 / 4 / 6 lines).
  • Rhyme & Refrain: Uses only two rhymes (often noted a and b) and a refrain R made from the opening phrase. A common scheme is aabba aabR aabbaR, where R is the short repeated refrain.
  • Refrain (Rentrement): The refrain is usually the poem’s opening phrase (about a quarter to a half line) that returns at the ends of stanzas 2 and 3.
  • Meter: Historically octosyllabic (8 syllables) in French; in English, meter is flexible, but tight rhythm enhances the songlike feel.
  • Tone & Effect: The refrain reframes meaning as it returns—creating irony, deepening emotion, or sharpening focus.
  • Variations: Related forms include the rondelet and rondeau redoublé, which elaborate the refrain and repetition patterns.

In a strong rondeau, the refrain doesn’t just repeat—it evolves; each reappearance casts prior lines in a fresh light.