Triolet

I was in a class on Saturday and the exercise was to take one of the famous Mediaeval or Renaissance first lines that had been chosen by the teacher and write a new ending for it.

This first line is from the Lais of Marie de France by Yonec. It was written about A.D. 1170. The word 'paved' does not have the accent in any of the translations I've seen; I added it because I thought the line worked better that way.

The form used here is a triolet and the rhyme scheme is: ABaAabAB

In a big room, pavéd with stone
Lies my love; pale, cold, dead, and grieved.
He’s in his coffin, his face shown
In a big room, pavéd with stone.
He was the sweetest man I’d known
And his demise leaves me bereaved.
In a big room, pavéd with stone
Lies my love; pale, cold, dead, and grieved.

Sonnet 24

I don't know how I'm going to be able to work on the novel that goes with this sonnet sequence. I can't concentrate enough to do any writing.

This sonnet is one that I wrote for my ex when we were dating. I like to think that I've improved as a poet. I may end up using it in the sequence anyway.

I've heard that there are people who can care
As much for jewelled knives and cloth-of-gold
And that which, in a market, can be sold
As for their lover's thoughts. Some people dare
To claim the robes which they so proudly wear
Are finer still than all love's whispers. Bold
Are the people who think that owning gold
Is sweeter than the kisses that they share.
But you and I know better than to leave
The sweetness of our lover's lips unkissed.
No fools are we who'd rather spend our days
Embraced. By living thus, we shall not grieve
For all the times and chances we have missed.
We'll share our love. The rest may go their way.