Love Chant*
How do I love thee?
I’ll write you letters till your eyes cannot see.
How do I love thee?
I’ll reach you even in the deepest blue sea.
How do I love thee?
I’ll sing you songs till you can’t hear me.
How do I love thee?
I’ll command the stars to shine to you brightly.
How do I love thee?
I’ll hold your hand, till it’s gray and skinny.
How do I love thee?
I’ll tell the wind to breathe life to you endlessly.
How do I love thee?
I’ll remind you of our love, when your brain forgets about me.
How do I love thee?
I’ll stopped time, when your heartbeat dies slowly.
How do I love thee?
I can say more but nothing will ever be enough, to tell you…
How do I love thee.
—
©2016 Rosemawrites@A Reading Writer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Unsplash
In response to Napowrimo Day 26. (yes, I’m catching up! :D)
Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that incorporates a call and response. Calls-and-responses are used in many sermons and hymns (and also in sea chanties!), in which the preacher or singer asks a question or makes an exclamation, and the audience responds with a specific, pre-determined response.
–
The Chant is from Latin cantus, meaning song, but this genre of verse dates back far beyond the days of Homer and Virgil. As most verse, it began as an oral tradition and it probably was heard echoing off the walls of cave dwellers in prehistoric times. The chant is verse in which a word, phrase, line and rhythm is repeated again and again. The repetition is strong and the rhythm hypnotic. But it didn’t get left behind in the caves, more modern verse forms or poetic genres have employed elements of the chant, such as the blues and slave or prison work songs.
The Chant is:
- repetitive, usually a word, phrase, line, a rhythm is repeated over and over.
- musical, it should contain a rhythmic beat.
- written without a beginning, middle or end.
- rhymed at the discretion of the poet.
Oh boy! You beat me to it, been meaning to do my very own version of Browning’s How Do I love Thee. You are on fire!! ❤
P.S. Check docs. My part is done too 🙂
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Yay! We think alike? 😀 😀 😀
That line has been stuck on my mind since I’m a kid. So there. 😀
P.S.
As usual, you did GREAT! 😀 ❤
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*blush blush*
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you are extra lovely when you blush. 😀 (I can imagine. :D)
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Aww ❤
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Nice 🙂
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cheesy, eh? Thank you! 😀
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Not at all💞
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Thank you dear Mandi! 😀
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Wow!!! This is just wow!!! ❤
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Geez! Thank you dear Debbie! ❤ ❤ ❤ How's the countdown! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Rosema, this is beautiful! 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, PJ! Maybe I am in love. HAHA 😀
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Wonderful!! I hope you are!!!
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I am! 😀 😀 😀
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each stanza is a beautiful declaration of love ❤
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thank you! You got it in a few words dear Mel! ❤
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You’re welcome ❤
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I cannot thank you enough. 🙂
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🙂
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❤
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OMG!! Can I just write this on a paper, fold it into an airplane, and fly it towards he-who-shall-not-be-named? Geez Rosema!! ❤ ❤ ❤ I love it. I love it. I love it.
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Go ahead, Maria! 😀 😀 😀 That would be awesome. Though first… I want a name for he-who-shall-not-be-named! 😀 😀 😀
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If only I can… Hahaha! Maybe I should just chant this every night? XD
Hmm… he-who-shall-not-be-named, must not be named. Or else. Hehe
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HAHAHAHA. Chant it while your making a potion! HAHAHAHA
oohhh. Or else????
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It’s 12:03 am while I’m typing this and I just finished chanting (without the potion, sadly). Hahaha! Would it work?
Or else… a certain heart will burst! XD
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HAHAHAHAHAH! That felt so creeeeepy!!! (I can imagine you wearing a black dress and pointed hat ensemble while your mixing lizard’s tail with banana tree’s sap and…
HAHAHA. Kidding dearie! 😀 😀 😀
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HAHAHA!!! lizard’s tail with banana tree’s sap is definitely CREEPY!!! XD Hahaha, I could try and find a pointed hat somewhere though. But really, who knows… it might work?
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Sorry for that creepy imagination. Sleepiness gets the best of me, I am daydreaming! HAHAHAA
It might? It might not. The best potion, I think, is your natural charm. 😉
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“The best potion, I think, is your natural charm.” ~Awwe! I so agree with this. ❤ Hahaha. Daydreaming is a good thing, as long as our bosses won't notice. XD
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HAHA!Glad you agree! Now it is my turn to agree! 😀
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Aww, romantic and heartfelt!
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Thank you, Jade! Not my usual but still a lovely experience to write one. ❤
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