For Real Toads: Dickinson's ballad style

Today, Kerry O'Connor of the writers' group
Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, reintroduced us to the ballad style preferred by Emily Dickinson in much of her poetry.
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"Each stanza or quatrain alternates lines of iambic tetrameter (8 syllables) and iambic trimeter (six syllables), with an ABCB rhyme scheme," says Kerry.  "Dickinson's stanzas were not always in strict iambs, though she retained the syllable count.

"Dickinson's  poems might consist of between one and six stanzas and her use of punctuation was idiosyncratic."

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Kay Davies photo

I loved that last part. I suspect my punctuation (although I'm quick to correct that of others when requested) is idiosyncratic as well.

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I attempted a few (between one and four verses, not six) Dickinsonian ballads today. Like the classic poet herself, I tried to maintain the syllable count but cannot promise the stress should always be on the second syllable.

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ON FALLING SNOW

My heart is heavy with the snow

White’ning the countryside

My love is far, so far afield

And to me he’ll soon ride

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Whate’er betides my love that day

What winds will blow and shriek

Toward me I know he will ride

And here my comfort seek

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Pull up, my love, pull up, I beg,

Do not in deep snow ride

Your horse may fall and break a leg

And you, my love, might die

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Seek refuge, love, where’er you might

Stay warm, my love, and live

For I’ll be here both day and night

And to you comfort give.

Photo courtesy Mr. Google

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ON MISTLETOE

Mistletoe hangs over my head

And bids you kiss me soft

The berries white can bring romance

When they are hung aloft

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So kiss me quick, my darling dear

Do not kiss another

For in this very place, just here,

Father first kissed Mother

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They married and their love lived long

Through new generations

Because the mistletoe bestowed

Kissing’s sweet sensations.

Sketch courtesy Mr. Google

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ON WINTER WOE

No roses bloom, no pansies preen

Hummingbirds don't hover

But evergreen can still be seen

'Neath the snowy cover

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Come, Christmas, soon, and New Year’s Eve

When all will be jolly

And winter’s woe will be relieved

By bells, song and holly.

Kay Davies photo

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ON FIREGLOW

The flames burn bright upon the logs

But we no wood need buy

Electric flames burn warm

As toast, while on the rug we lie.

Media photo