by F.R. Duplantier
In the summer of 2008, I created a new verse form: the “Rosalie,” four dimeter lines rhyming aaba (the first consisting of the name Rosalie, the next two replicating the meter of the name, and the last alone iambic) invoking Rosalie Rendu, the spiritual advisor of Blessed Frederick Ozanam, to intercede on behalf of the organization he founded and protect it from evil.
7.19
Rosalie,
Smile on me.
Help me set
The captives free.
7.20
Rosalie,
Help us now.
Tell us what
To do, and how.
7.21
Rosalie,
Make us wise:
Open hearts
And open eyes.
7.22
Rosalie,
Show the way.
Be our guide
Throughout the day.
7.23
Rosalie,
Do God’s will:
Help clean house
In Louisville.
7.24
Rosalie,
See our need.
Hear our plea
And intercede.
7.25
Rosalie,
We’re not slaves.
Free us from
The fools and knaves.
7.26
Rosalie,
Keep us one.
Help us do
What must be done.
7.27
Rosalie,
Please arrange
Overdue
Systemic change.
7.28
Rosalie,
Sixty days!
Guide us in
This final phase.
7.29
Rosalie,
We believe
Truth will out,
Though men deceive.
7.30
Rosalie,
Combat error:
Help us end
The reign of terror.
7.31
Rosalie,
Salvage strife:
Shine the light
On afterlife.
8.1
Rosalie,
You’ll be heard:
Rouse the troops
And spread the word!
8.2
Rosalie,
Hear the pleaders.
Answer them
And raise up leaders.
8.3
Rosalie,
Who’s to blame?
Give those fiends
A sense of shame.
8.4
Rosalie,
We are blind:
Help us seek
And we shall find.
8.5
Rosalie,
Wolves abound.
Guard the sheep
And keep them sound.
8.6
Rosalie,
Calm our fear:
Tell us what
We need to hear.
8.7
Rosalie,
Fifty days!
Lead us through
The liars’ maze.
8.8
Rosalie,
Pharisees
Violate
Our policies.
8.9
Rosalie,
Help arrives:
Fear retreats
And hope revives.
8.10
Rosalie,
Legends may
Prove themselves
Or us betray.
8.11
Rosalie,
Help us tell
Why we’re sick
And make us well.
8.12
Rosalie,
Spirit’s low:
Send real help,
And not some Joe.
8.13
Rosalie,
Be our shield
— At the office,
In the field.
8.14
Rosalie,
Legends should
Always seek
To do the good.
8.15
Rosalie,
Friend or foe?
Needed change,
Or status quo?
8.16
Rosalie,
Help our friends
Right the wrongs
And make amends.
8.17
Rosalie,
Thanks and praise!
Louisville
In forty days!
8.18
Rosalie,
Can’t they see
All we want
Is honesty?
8.19
Rosalie,
Can’t they see
That the truth
Will set them free?
8.20
Rosalie,
Raise a cheer,
Shouting out:
The end is near!
8.21
Rosalie,
Warn them well:
Save their souls
From hounds of hell.
8.22
Rosalie,
Reprobates
Will not pass
Through pearly gates.
8.23
Rosalie,
Intercede:
Truth, not tricks,
Is what we need.
8.24
Rosalie,
Give them hints:
Witnesses
And documents.
8.25
Rosalie,
Dash our doubt:
Let lies wilt
And truth will out.
8.26
Rosalie,
Who will act?
Legend’s grand
Façade is cracked.
8.27
Rosalie,
Thirty days!
Help us end
This long malaise.
8.28
Rosalie,
Who’s in charge?
Little gang,
Or folks at large?
8.29
Rosalie,
Hope empowers
To reclaim
What’s rightly ours.
8.30
Rosalie,
We beseech:
Oust the Snake,
The Toad, the Leech.
8.31
Rosalie,
Legend’s known:
First confess,
And then atone.
9.1
Rosalie,
Clouds will clear,
Sun will shine:
The end is near.
9.2
Rosalie,
Truth will out,
Facts be known
Beyond a doubt.
9.3
Rosalie,
If you think
We’re on track,
Then give a wink!
9.4
Rosalie,
Don’t be blue:
We’ll revive
And start anew.
9.5
Rosalie,
How we’ll flip
When the rats
Abandon ship!
9.6
Rosalie,
Help us raise
Falsehood’s veil
In twenty days.
9.7
Rosalie,
Scoundrels should
Make amends
For their own good.
9.8
Rosalie,
Secrets will
Be revealed
In Louisville.
9.9
Rosalie,
It’s your day!
With us still,
You lead the way!
9.10
Rosalie,
Monkey’s stern,
Which is bad,
And will he burn!
9.11
Rosalie,
Loathsome Three
Must depart
Society.
9.12
Rosalie,
Let them know:
Willingly
Or not, they go.
9.13
Rosalie,
They’re inspired
To resign
Before they’re fired.
9.14
Rosalie,
Leaders will
Make a change
In Louisville.
9.15
Rosalie,
Can there be
Ones so blind
As who’ll not see?
9.16
Rosalie,
Only ten
Days until
The wondrous When.
9.17
Rosalie,
Those so wise
Can expect
A big surprise.
9.18
Rosalie,
What is he
Who exploits
A charity?
9.19
Rosalie,
Thanks are due
To the one
Who led us through!
9.20
Rosalie,
All is clear:
Eyes to see
And ears to hear.
9.21
Rosalie,
Mercy’s mild:
Sinners can
Be reconciled.
9.22
Rosalie,
Let there be
Genuine
Transparency.
Copyright ©2008, F.R. Duplantier