poetry Poetry Prompt 16 – Carol

Former Member · December 1, 2015

Poetry Prompt 16 – Carol

Let's Write a December Carol!

Okay, don’t groan and don’t shake your head. This prompt will be more flexible than you probably have in mind. First, what is a Carol? In our brains it is probably just the word we use to label any old Christmas song on the radio, but believe it or not, its roots are far from church, and it's not tied to any one religious tradition.

My edition of the Harvard Dictionary of Music[1] informs us that 'Carol' derives from the French 'Carole,' which is the name of a circle dance (what we in North America would call a 'square dance'). The author says: "[Caroles were] associated in English with the early pagan dance-songs performed in celebration of the winter solstice, a ritual which later merged with that of Christmas." The author also says Caroles possibly used a poetic structure known as the Virelai, and for our prompt, we shall follow that tip: it's a part-song alternating between a chorus and several verses.

So, although Christmas Carols are probably familiar to us, the modern ones in celebration of Nature are probably not. Let's begin by looking at some Carols of this type. Here is Ein Lied hinterm Ofen zu singen, by Matthias Claudius from 1782.

Der Winter ist ein rechter Mann,
Kernfest und auf die Dauer;
Sein Fleisch fühlt sich wie Eisen an,
Und scheut nicht süß noch sauer.

War je ein Mann gesund wie er?
Er krankt und kränkelt nimmer,
Er trotzt der Kälte wie ein Bär
und schläft im kalten Zimmer.

Er zieht sein Hemd im freien an
und läßt's vorher nicht wärmen
und spottet über Fluß im Zahn
und Grimmen in Gedärmen.

Aus Blumen und aus Vogelsang
weiß er sich nichts zu machen;
Haßt warmen Drang und warmen Klang
und alle warmen Sachen.

Doch wenn die Füchse bellen sehr,
wenn's Holz im Ofen knittert,
und um den Ofen Knecht und Herr
die Hände reibt und zittert;

Wenn Stein und Bein vor Frost zerbricht
und Teich und Zehen krachen:
Das klingt ihm gut, das haßt er nicht,
dann will er tot sich lachen.-

Sein Schloß von Eis liegt ganz hinaus
Beim Nordpol an dem Strande;
Doch hat er auch ein Sommerhaus
im lieben Schweizerlande.

Da ist er denn bald dort, bald hier;
gut Regiment zu führen;
und wenn er durchzieht, stehen wir
und sehn ihn an und frieren.[2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJbXQ_oG7hI

Structurally, we can see this Carol is made of quatrains, which alternate between a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b, and c-c-c-c. The 'c' section forms a chorus of sorts for the verses sandwiched above and below it. Being rhymed the same each time gives these middle sections the feeling of a refrain, even though the text is different each time.

Here is another example of this type written by Malcolm Sargent, and called the Nature Carol:

Coral, amber, pearl and shell,

Gifts we gather from summer seas,

Find and bind make love the spell,

Take our gifts if they charm and please.

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, aloha!

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, Aloha!

Ruby, onyx, rain and dew,

Weave a crown with your jeweled light,

Show and know whose world is new,

Who is prince of the day and night.

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, aloha!

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, Aloha!

Meadow, orchard, field and vine.

Melon, grape and maize are here,

Leaf and sheaf with tendrils twine,

Bring your harvests far and near.

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, aloha!

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, Aloha!

Mountains, flowers, trees and hills,

Laugh and sing where His blessings fall,

Wind and waves, lagoons and rills,

Shout His love who is Lord of all.

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, aloha!

Aloha! Aloha!, Hanaw, hanaw, Aloha![3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdoqZUaVB9w

In terms of structure, we again have a verse section made of a quatrain rhymed a-b-a-b. Here the chorus is repeated verbatim and sticks to a simple c-c couplet.

That brings us to Charles Dickens (lol), and his A Christmas Carol. The novella has five parts, which he termed as 'Staves.' A Carol for him had five stanzas, and he intended his book to be a joyous song of praise to the Christmas spirit. These types of Carols arose at the beginning of the 18^th century and evolved into the Christmas songs we know of today. In fact, one – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – is even quoted in A Christmas Carol. As it's a 'perfect' carol to reflect the Christmas aspect of this type of poem, let's look at the lyrics.

God rest you, merry gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour

Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour

was born on Christmas day.

In Bethlehem, in Jury,

This blessed babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn

The which his mother Mary

Nothing did take in scorn.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour

was born on Christmas day.

From God our Heavenly Father

A blessed Angel came,

And unto certain Shepherds

Brought tidings of the same,

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by name.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour

was born on Christmas day.

Fear not, then said the Angel,

Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of virtue, power and might;

So frequently to vanquish all

The friends of Satan quite.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour

was born on Christmas day.

The Shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a feeding

In tempest, storm and wind,

And went to Bethlehem straightway,

This blessed babe to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour

was born on Christmas day.[4]

As far as structure goes, this Carol follows the basic lyric pattern we studied earlier: 8-syllable lines followed by 6-syllable ones. This holds true (mostly even in the chorus section). As for rhymes, the poet contented himself with an a-a-a pattern on lines 2, 4 and 6 (thus in the first stanza, we have: dismay; day; astray).

So now, if you are contemplating writing one, where do you start? It seems to me the Carol arises from a spiritual place. It's about connection with the natural world around us, or though the heart and soul with the higher power that gives rise to all human emotion. I'd say to relax and take a moment to feel and reflect. Perhaps your Carol will be about the extremes of temperatures this time of year (cold for the northern hemisphere, and hot for the southern). Perhaps your Carol will be about good-fellowship or renewal, which seems to be a common thread through most of the many holidays in this final month of the year.

The prompt: write one Carol suitable for the month of December. It can be a Nature-inspired song, or one based on any of the many holidays in the 12^th month: Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, Hanukkah, Milad un Nabi, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, or even Festivus (for the rest of us).[5] Have fun, but provide a lyric set of stanzas (I'd say about 4 or 5) and a refrain. Use any metre or rhyme scheme you feel is best.

--------------------------------------------

[1] 18^th printing, 1967, by Willi Apel; pages 122 & 123

[2] Translation kindly provided by Aditus.

A Song to Sing by the Fire:

The winter is a righteous man,

Strong like stone and enduring;

His flesh feels like iron,

And he does not shy from sweet or sour.

Was ever a man as healthy as he?

He never suffers nor ails,

He braves the cold like a bear

and sleeps in cold rooms.

He puts on his shirt outside

without warming it up first

and scoffs at toothache

and colics in his intestines.

He doesn't care for

flowers and birdsongs;

He hates warm drinks and warm songs

and everything warm.

But when the foxes are barking,

when wood wrinkles in the stove,

and servant and master

rub their hands and tremble.

When stone and bone break from the frost

and ponds and toes crack

That sounds good to him, that he does like

then he laughs himself to death.

His castle of ice is far away

near North Pole on the beach;

But he also has a summerhouse

In our lovely Switzerland.

Sometimes he's here, sometimes he's there;

to govern over us;

and when he passes through, we stand

and gaze at him and freeze.

[4] As printed in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, W. B. Sandys, editor; 1833 London

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

Edited February 2, 2023 by AC Benus

Mikiesboy · December 1, 2015

Don't groan? I think crying is more like it.. I'll think on it for a few days. Nice job AC!

Mikiesboy · December 3, 2015

Here's mine.. there may be more.. but here it is:

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/mikiesboy/timmysjournal/18

Former Member · December 4, 2015

Here's mine.. there may be more.. but here it is:

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/mikiesboy/timmysjournal/18

Thanks for taking the challenge, Tim! I love it, and left you a review on the posting. Also, I think it's a great idea if you want to write more of them

Former Member · December 4, 2015

Here's mine.. there may be more.. but here it is:

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/mikiesboy/timmysjournal/18

I see you didn't groan or cry,

and I'm tellin' ya why,

cuz you rolled up both of your sleeves,

and wrote something to please.

Edited December 4, 2015 by AC Benus

Puppilull · December 4, 2015

I wrote a rough draft on my plane ride yesterday in a flash. I'll have to see if it's any good now in the light of day...

Dolores Esteban · December 4, 2015

This was quite an experience. I researched on carols and ended up listening to Gregorian chants in Latin for hours. And then my Muse wanted to write a song in French - Latin was out of the question - and gave me a couple of beautiful lines and guided me to a nice background music.

Well, here it is:

Lumière du monde

Not exactly a carol, I think.

This is the music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVGLXVhhns

André Rieu - Love theme from Romeo and Juliet

Former Member · December 6, 2015

This was quite an experience. I researched on carols and ended up listening to Gregorian chants in Latin for hours. And then my Muse wanted to write a song in French - Latin was out of the question - and gave me a couple of beautiful lines and guided me to a nice background music.

Well, here it is:

Lumière du monde

Not exactly a carol, I think.

This is the music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVGLXVhhns

André Rieu - Love theme from Romeo and Juliet

Thanks for taking the prompt challenge! I like it a lot, and left you a review on the actual posting.

J.HunterDunn · December 12, 2015

Happy to announce the birth of my first prompt poem as "author"

The baby can be visited here:

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/jhunterdunn/petersprobationarypoems/1

Puppilull · December 12, 2015

You look good in red! LOL

Aditus · December 13, 2015

The anthology is done, next chapter of H&I is ready to be posted tomorrow. Now I'm going to attempt writing a carol... The three I read so far a really good.

Former Member · December 13, 2015

The anthology is done, next chapter of H&I is ready to be posted tomorrow. Now I'm going to attempt writing a carol... The three I read so far a really good.

The more the merrier, Adi!

Former Member · December 14, 2015

Happy to announce the birth of my first prompt poem as "author"

The baby can be visited here:

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/jhunterdunn/petersprobationarypoems/1

Thanks for taking the poetry prompt challenge, Peter! I've left you a review on the actual posting

Puppilull · December 14, 2015

So here is mine. I dubbed it a Christmas carol and even managed to misspell... I'm just that tired right now.

This carol was written on a plane heading for the desert. The only time I've had in a long time to just sit and be. Turned out fruitful.

https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/story/puppilull/puppilullspoetryprompts/15

Now, that only leaves free verse. Strange, all that freedom seems to paralyse my little lawyer brain. It needs rules. Craves them. My peciousssss... (Told you I'm really tired... When I'm tired I get silly.)

Former Member · December 14, 2015

So here is mine. I dubbed it a Christmas carol and even managed to misspell... I'm just that tired right now.

This carol was written on a plane heading for the desert. The only time I've had in a long time to just sit and be. Turned out fruitful.

https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/story/puppilull/puppilullspoetryprompts/15

Now, that only leaves free verse. Strange, all that freedom seems to paralyse my little lawyer brain. It needs rules. Craves them. My peciousssss... (Told you I'm really tired... When I'm tired I get silly.)

Thanks for taking the poetry prompt challenge! I left you a review on the posting, and as far as why these prompts are more challenging than earlier ones (in my mind at least...) it's because they are open-ended. Freedom takes greater mastery than freedom, if you know what I mean

Parker Owens · December 14, 2015

Here is an entry for a Carol. It's very traditional, and even has a tune.

It can be found here, too https://www.gayauthors.org/story/parker-owens/occasionalpoetry/7

Thanks!

Mikiesboy · December 14, 2015

Here is an entry for a Carol. It's very traditional, and even has a tune.

It can be found here, too https://www.gayauthors.org/story/parker-owens/occasionalpoetry/7

Thanks!

loved it!!

Former Member · December 15, 2015

Here is an entry for a Carol. It's very traditional, and even has a tune.

It can be found here, too https://www.gayauthors.org/story/parker-owens/occasionalpoetry/7

Thanks!

Thanks for taking the poetry prompt challenge! I left you a review.

Puppilull · December 15, 2015

Here is an entry for a Carol. It's very traditional, and even has a tune.

It can be found here, too https://www.gayauthors.org/story/parker-owens/occasionalpoetry/7

Thanks!

I would love to see or rather hear the music. Unless it's crazy complicated I do know how to play the piano.

Parker Owens · December 15, 2015

I would love to see or rather hear the music. Unless it's crazy complicated I do know how to play the piano.

I will see if I can work this all out so you can hear it or play it.

Dolores Esteban · December 15, 2015

The carols are all very beautiful.

Defiance19 · December 19, 2015

So, I was feeling this prompt, and decided on not one, but two Carols. With AC's great help and fine tuning, I felt brave enough to share! What do you think?

The north wind wakes the quiet day

Snow capped branches bend low and sigh

I watch the early shadows play

As bands of colour flood the sky

While outside

The snow gently falls

A bird sweetly calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn

Pine beckons from the tree so tall

That soon we will be gathered round

Bright stockings hanging from the wall

Await with goodies to be found

But outside

The snow softly falls

A bird gaily calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn

Laughter from children filled with glee

A table surrounded with love

Gifts will from their trappings fall free

So I raise grateful eyes above

As outside

The snow lightly falls

A bird gladly calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn

I'll pray that pain and hunger cease

That strangers and friends grown and small

Will fill our world with love and peace

And no harm our loved ones befall

While outside

The snow calmly falls

A bird kindly calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn.

And then there's this:

Awake, be glad this happy morn

Our Saviour Christ today is born

Men of old once this day foretold

Bringing frankincense, myrrh and gold

Noël, Noël, Noël we sing

Greetings to our Saviour King

Angels brought tidings of His birth

To lowly shepherds here on earth

Now his people in thanksgiving

Proclaim in joy of His coming

Noël, Noël, Noël we sing

Greetings to our Saviour King

Arise, prepare your hearts for him

Alight the parts of you gone dim

Peace on earth and to all good will

A gift mankind can give him still

Noël, Noël, Noël we sing

Greetings to our Saviour King

Mikiesboy · December 19, 2015

So, I was feeling this prompt, and decided on not one, but two Carols. With AC's great help and fine tuning, I felt brave enough to share! What do you think?

The north wind wakes the quiet day

Snow capped branches bend low and sigh

I watch the early shadows play

As bands of colour flood the sky

While outside

The snow gently falls

A bird sweetly calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn

Pine beckons from the tree so tall

That soon we will be gathered round

Bright stockings hanging from the wall

Await with goodies to be found

But outside

The snow softly falls

A bird gaily calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn

Laughter from children filled with glee

A table surrounded with love

Gifts will from their trappings fall free

So I raise grateful eyes above

As outside

The snow lightly falls

A bird gladly calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn

I'll pray that pain and hunger cease

That strangers and friends grown and small

Will fill our world with love and peace

And no harm our loved ones befall

While outside

The snow calmly falls

A bird kindly calls

Nature hurriedly greets the dawn

Arise, arise, it's Christmas morn.

And then there's this:

Awake, be glad this happy morn

Our Saviour Christ today is born

Men of old once this day foretold

Bringing frankincense, myrrh and gold

Noël, Noël, Noël we sing

Greetings to our Saviour King

Angels brought tidings of His birth

To lowly shepherds here on earth

Now his people in thanksgiving

Proclaim in joy of His coming

Noël, Noël, Noël we sing

Greetings to our Saviour King

Arise, prepare your hearts for him

Alight the parts of you gone dim

Peace on earth and to all good will

A gift mankind can give him still

Noël, Noël, Noël we sing

Greetings to our Saviour King

OH Def, these are glorious!!! I hope you'll post them properly.. you must write when you feel it. They are truly wonderful!!!

tim

Defiance19 · December 19, 2015

OH Def, these are glorious!!! I hope you'll post them properly.. you must write when you feel it. They are truly wonderful!!!

tim

Thank you Tim.. no likes left..

Mikiesboy · December 19, 2015

Thank you Tim.. no likes left..

me too

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