Paradelle* for Julie

This form was actually invented by Billy Collins - that poetic prankster gave the description below, except the French history part is bullshit. Poets get degrees in BS. I myself am the proud owner of an MBS !

*The paradelle is a French forme fixe of the 11th Century. It is a poem of four six line stanzas in which the first and second lines , as well as the third and fourth lines of the first three stanzas must be identical. The fifth and sixth lines, which traditionally resolve these stanzas, must use all the words from the preceding lines and only those words. The final stanza must use every word from the three preceding stanzas and only those words.

Alors, Paradelle* for Julie

I now go to our midnight tango.
I now go to our midnight tango.
I didn’t know you were so – calypso !
I didn’t know you were so – calypso !
I now know to tango I, so you didn’t go.
Were our midnight calypso.

Those old Cuban records never sounded so fine.
Those old Cuban records never sounded so fine.
And the memory ages, like good wine.
And the memory ages, like good wine.
The memory never records those ages -
sounded so Cuban and fine, good like old wine.

Now we cross this bridge – in Spring’s first sun.
Now we cross this bridge – in Spring’s first sun.
I carry a little girl’s bicycle, below the water runs.
I carry a little girl’s bicycle, below the water runs.
Below the little girl’s bicycle, Spring’s first sun runs.
I carry a cross. This bridge. We in water now.

Now we go bicycle a cross this; I carry our midnight memory.
Those tango and calypso records sounded so you!
Were a bridge ; I to you. Didn’t little girl’s know ?
In Spring’s first Now, water never ages.
Below this, fine wine runs
Like the good old Cuban sun.