Constellation

Virelai is a form of medieval French verse used often in poetry and music.* The prompt: "Include in a title the word 'contradiction,' 'constellation,' or 'cranberry'-- and write a poem that includes 'bamboozled,' 'bloodlust,' or 'bibliography.'"

 

Constellation

 

Aquarius, my

designated sky

beacon,

suggests I am shy

yet destined to cry

“Freedom,”

look chiefs in the eye.

But I see that drive’s

demon.

 

Though I do bemoan

downplays of women,

don’t try

efforts to reason:

when bloodlust’s sweetened,

invite

our link to deepen

until they’re weakened

allies.

 

 

*Nine lines per stanza, lines 1,2,4,5,7,8 have 5 syllables and rhyme with each other, lines 3,6, 9 have two syllables and rhyme with each other; the end rhyme for short lines continues to the following stanza; the final stanza’s short-line end rhyme is the same as the long-line end rhyme in opening stanza.