The Bugler Sounds A Mournful Tune

A Rondeau poem, it consists of a Refrain, and three stanzas, a quintet (5 lines), a quatrain (4 lines) and a sestet (6 lines), giving a total of 15 lines.

The first phrase of the first line usually sets the refrain R. It is admissible to use the whole line used as the refrain.

The rhyme scheme is: R. a. a. b. b. a .... a. a. b. R. .... a. a. b. b. a. R.

The Bugler Sounds A Mournful Tune

The bugler sounds a mournful tune, a twenty-one gun salute.
Another brave man laid to rest, over a simple land dispute.
He was a gallant man, never wanted to fight.
But could not forgive, after seeing that awful sight.
Now he lies there in the ground, in his dark grey suit.

About wars he never cared, couldn’t give a hoot.
Was a peaceful man, who loved to strum the lute.
In the darkness of the summer night.
The bugler sounds a mournful tune.

He sought to help others, never gave one the boot.
Never believed in lying, that none could dispute.
Did not think of warring, until he saw the light.
Lit by the death, of his beautiful, loving wife.
Now he has joined her, their love you can’t dilute.
The bugler sounds a mournful tune.

Jim Dorrell
9/5/14