In These Streets Where We Walked (Quatern)

by Larry Chamberlin   Oct 19, 2016


In these hillside streets where we walked
roam the ghosts of who we once were
ancient spirits - youthful dreamers
not long before you were interred.

Joy ran through our souls all the days
in these hillside streets where we walked
the future was not big enough
to hold the plans of which we talked.

Exploring buildings and rooftops
filled our hearts with wonder and hope
in these hillside streets where we walked
we even made plans to elope.

Cynical optimist was I
never knowing that we were stalked
by your past that robbed our future
in these hillside streets where we walked.

*******************************
rewrite of an old poem

A Quatern is a sixteen line French form composed of four quatrains. The first line of stanza one is the second line of stanza two, third line of stanza three, and fourth line of stanza four. A quatern has eight syllables per line. Rhyme scheme is optional.

    report violation
4


Did You Like This Poem?

Latest Comments

  • 8 years ago

    by Maple Tree

    Judging Comment

    Quatern's are one of my all time favorite forms. Larry did beautifully of this remake. The repetitive line needs to be catchy to the reader and yet flow, which his repeat line did that and more.

    To write of a place where you were born perhaps can be haunting and yet rustic to the eye and soul of the writer and the reader... this was a powerful piece by Larry and I am happy he chose this form to display it with... very nice!

  • 8 years ago

    by Milly Hayward

    Beautifully written sad but dynamic Millyx

  • 8 years ago

    by Em

    I can't add much more than what the 2 Bens wrote....

    This is exquisite though and it shows how much you have grown as a poet since you wrote the original.

    Em

  • 8 years ago

    by Larry Chamberlin

    Ben (both of you), thank you. Taking ether's challenge, this is rewritten from a poem I wrote in 1998 & I appreciate your compliments. The choice of a Quatern was dictated by my desire to reuse the line, rather than the other way around.

  • 8 years ago

    by Naughtymouse

    Larry, as always and not to regurgitate old comments, you write so damn good it makes me sick. Not content with an amazing word choice and atmosphere you go and throw it into a Quatern, which is possibly my favourite of all formed poetry, I've written a few so I know how central that recurring line is and yours is perfect.

    Amazing job Gov'na

Read All Comments (7)

More Poems By Larry Chamberlin