Thekyrielle is apoetic form that originated in 15th century Frenchtroubadour poetry.[1]
The name kyrielle derives from theKýrie, which is part of manyChristianliturgies.[2] A traditional kyrielle is written in octosyllabicrhyming couplets, which are typically paired inquatrains.[3] Typically, a kyrielle will use the phrase "Lord, have mercy" or a variation as arefrain as the second line of the couplet or last line of the quatrain. However, some kyrielles use other phrases or words for the refrain. There is no prescribed number of stanzas in a kyrielle, but most have at least three.[1]
There are a number of possiblerhyme schemes for a kyrielle, though the refrain is always the final line of each stanza.[1] English kyrielles includeThomas Campion's "With broken heart and contrite sigh" andJohn Payne's "A lark in the mesh of the tangled vine."[4][3]