Rondelet

The rondelet is a brief French form of poetry. It contains a single septet, refrain, a strict rhyme scheme and a distinct meter pattern.

Rondelet is the diminutive of rondel, a similar, longer verse form. This is the basic structure:

• Line 1: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {A} }$—four syllables
• Line 2: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {b} }$—eight syllables
• Line 3: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {A} }$—repeat of line one
• Line 4: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {a} }$—eight syllables
• Line 5: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {b} }$—eight syllables
• Line 6: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {b} }$—eight syllables
• Line 7: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {A} }$—repeat of line one

The refrained lines should contain the same words, however substitution or different use of punctuation on the lines has been common.