Rondel
from Froissart
Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Naught see I fixed or sure in thee! I do not know thee,--nor what deeds are thine: Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Naught see I fixed or sure in thee! Shall I be mute, or vows with prayers combine? Ye who are blessed in loving, tell it me: Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Naught see I permanent or sure in thee!
Rondel - form Summary
A Rondel's Recurring Refrain
Longfellow’s poem is a short rondel built around a recurring refrain that returns three times. The repeated opening line and near-repetitions create a circular, insistent rhythm that mirrors the speaker’s confusion and powerless questioning about love. The tight form concentrates emotion into a few direct questions, so the poem’s structure—its echoing lines and brief duration—becomes the chief means of expressing uncertainty and longing.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.