This is a piece that Thomas and I wrote together as part of a challenge for the 2017 Bardic Madness in the Midrealm. The form challenge was triolets, which is a period French verse form dating back to the thirteenth century. It consists of an eight line stanza with 2 repeated lines, and can be used singly or as part of a cycle. (8 lines, 8 syllables Lines 1 & 4 & 7, and 2 & 8 are the same.  ABAA|ABAB Rhyme Scheme)

We wrote it as a cycle, each taking a stanza in turn. I wrote the first, he wrote the second, and so on and we discovered the story as we went. As an added level of complexity, we took the first stanza and broke it up so that each of the following stanzas used the next line from the first stanza as its starting point. This allowed us to circle back around and close the piece by repeating the first stanza.

Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Lips a’twitch in a secret smile
Much is wrought in clutching desire
Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Through black smoke burns funeral pyre
Yet one stands witness all the while
Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Lips a’twitch in a secret smile

Lips a’twitch in a secret smile
The prize is won, the cost is paid
Now lost, the plans he laid in guile
Lips a’twitch in a secret smile
The sickly stench, the rise of bile
His time is done, his part is played
Lips a’twitch in a secret smile
The prize is won, the cost is paid

Much is wrought in clutching desire
When passion burns in blackest night
The lure was set by her false squire
Much is wrought in clutching desire
But it was he who fell in fire
Benighted pride cost him the fight
Much is wrought in clutching desire
When passion burns in blackest night

Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
The smell of smoke, consuming rage
The last of treason, love and squire
Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Trusted friend, forsaken liar
Conspired to lock her in a cage
Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
The smell of smoke, consuming rage

Through black smoke burns funeral pyre
One future lost, another gained
Neither hearing celestial choir
Through black smoke burns funeral pyre
When chance or fate does choice require
An action leaving spirit stained
Through black smoke burns funeral pyre
One future lost, another gained

Yet one stands witness all the while
Though none may ever hear the cry
Lamenting loss, love’s poisoned vile
Yet one stands witness all the while
Hid well behind the secret smile
Concealing that she can’t deny
Yet one stands witness all the while
Though none may ever hear the cry

Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Lips a’twitch in a secret smile
Much is wrought in clutching desire
Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Through black smoke burns funeral pyre
Yet one stands witness all the while
Gaze intent on blaze orange fire
Lips a’twitch in a secret smile