Ballade Stanza

A Ballade Stanza or Monk's Tale Stanza (So named because it was used in  the Monk's Tale in The Canterbury Tales (1386–1400) by Geoffrey Chaucer )

Is an ten syllable isosyllabic octave, usually written in conjunction with other stanzas (formally five stressed syllables)

Rhyme Scheme: ababbcbc

Example Poem

Reprieve      (Ballade Stanza)        

My puppy wasn't there when I got home         

which was unusual in every way.         

He'd always wait to play; he'd never roam.         

"Honey- my grandma had sad things to say,        

"Hit chasing car… then they took him away."         

I'd never cried the way I cried that night.         

Surprise! His leg was in a cast next day;         

the driver smiled and made my life alright.

         

© Lawrencealot - January 16, 2014

Related forms: Ballade, Ballade Stanza, Ballade Supreme, Double Ballade,  Chanso, Double Ballade Supreme, Double Refrain Ballade, Double Refrain Ballade Supreme, Grand Ballade or Chant Royal.

Visual Template