A Ballad for You
I’m taking this wonderful season of growth to learn some new forms of poetry, to be wild with my paintbrush.
Last week I tried a couplet, this week I studied an ancient form of poetry, the ballad. The ballad is a traditional form of poetry that typically tells a dramatic or emotional story. It is often set to music.
Ballads do have a set form; they are typically four lines (quatrain) and have a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB.
So here is my attempt; perhaps not emotional or dramatic, but a picture painted with words.
And for good measure, I’ll add a picture painted with watercolour. 👩🎨😊
How does one attempt
to paint a picture with words
a poets imagining
of flowers, fields, birds.
You see the hills once brown
Bourgeoning with green
Flecks of deep yellow
A tapestry serene.
Hear the birds tell their tale
Greeting the morning with joyous song
The sun kisses the dew
And the flowers sing along.
Can you imagine their voices
The bright sea of yellow
Daffodils, dandelions, daisies
Buttercups so mellow.
Can one hear in the silence
This glorious song of spring
The fields dance, the clouds bow
The flutter of a wing.
The earth is alive
Fragrant beauty everywhere
Stop, listen, touch, smell,
A song, a grateful prayer.
-Grace Wulff 2022
Bird house meeting
