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robert bridges and robert graves.
ROBERT BRIDGES
Triolet
When first we met, we did not guess
That Love would prove so hard a master;
Of more than common friendliness
When first we met we did not guess.
Who could foretell the sore distress,
This irretrievable disaster,
When first we met?—We did not guess
That Love would prove so hard a master.
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TPB's notes: a poetic form that stems from the french verse, r. bridges is better known for the reintroduction of the triolet into english verse.
a highly conventional form, the triolet have a feeling of naturalness in the repetition (known here as the refrain), as well as alteration of same.
how the triolet works in english under an african voice is a whole different matter--
if you've written one, sent it to us here at TPB!
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ROBERT GRAVES
Counting the Beats
You, love, and I,
(He whispers) you and I,
And if no more than only you and I
What care you or I?
Counting the beats,
Counting the slow heart beats,
The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats,
Wakeful they lie.
Cloudless day,
Night, and a cloudless day,
Yet the huge storm will burst upon their heads one day
From a bitter sky.
Where shall we be,
(She whispers) where shall we be,
When death strikes home, O where then shall we be
Who were you and I?
Not there but here,
(He whispers) only here,
As we are, here, together, now and here,
Always you and I.
Counting the beats,
Counting the slow heart beats,
The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats,
Wakeful they lie.
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TPB's notes: ditto.
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