Soon sunny skies their gold will pour O'er meads that breezy maples shade; Spring knocks at winter's frosty door.
Along the reedy river's shore, Fleet fauns will frolic unafraid, The bonnie bluebirds sing once more.
And Love, the Love we lost of yore, Will come to twine the myrtle braid; Spring knocks at winter's frosty door, The bonnie bluebirds sing once more.
(CLINTON SCOLLARD: _Spring Knocks at Winter's Frosty Door._)
The triolet is really a diminutive form of the Rondeau, and was not originally distinguished by name. It consists of eight lines, with two rimes, lines 1 and 2 recurring as lines 7 and 8, and line 1 also as line 4. The rime-scheme is _ABaAabAB_. Here, as in the villanelle, a change of signification in the repeated lines is thought to add to the charm of the form.
A French specimen, from Ranchin, is cited by Mr. Gleeson White as being called by some "the king of triolets":
Le premier jour du mois de mai Fut le plus heureux de ma vie: Le beau dessein que je formai, Le premier jour du mois de mai! Je vous vis et je vous aimai. Si ce dessein vous plut, Sylvie, Le premier jour du mois de mai Fut le plus heureux de ma vie.
Easy is the Triolet, If you really learn to make it! Once a neat refrain you get, Easy is the Triolet. As you see!--I pay my debt With another rhyme. Deuce take it, Easy is the Triolet, If you really learn to make it!
Rose kissed me to-day, Will she kiss me to-morrow? Let it be as it may, Rose kissed me to-day. But the pleasure gives way To a savor of sorrow;-- Rose kissed me to-day,-- _Will_ she kiss me to-morrow?
I intended an Ode, And it turned to a Sonnet. It began _à la mode_, I intended an Ode; But Rose crossed the road In her latest new bonnet. I intended an Ode, And it turned to a Sonnet.
In an earlier version of this last "rose-leaf" the ode is said to have "turned into triolets," when Rose crossed the road "with a bunch of fresh violets."
A little kiss when no one sees, Where is the impropriety? How sweet amid the birds and bees A little kiss when no one sees! Nor is it wrong, the world agrees, If taken with sobriety. A little kiss when no one sees, Where is the impropriety?
Worldly designs, fears, hopes, farewell! Farewell all earthly joys and cares! On nobler thoughts my soul shall dwell! Worldly designs, fears, hopes, farewell! At quiet, in my peaceful cell, I'll think on God, free from your snares; Worldly designs, fears, hopes, farewell! Farewell all earthly joys and cares!