Zéjel with a mudanza Options

[Tinker]

Zéjel is a romantic Spanish form with Arabic influence related to the Qasida and adopted by the Spanish troubadors of 15th century. The Zéjel is distinguished by linking rhyme established in the opening Mudanza (change) in which the theme is established in a mono-rhymed triplet. There have been many variations of the form.

The simplest and most common form of the Zéjel is:

a. syllabic, most often written in 8 syllable lines.

b. strophic, opening with a mudanza (a mono-rhymed triplet) followed by any number of quatrains.

c. rhymed, the rhyme of the mudanza establishes a linking rhyme with the end line of the succeeding quatrains. Rhyme scheme, aaa bbba ddda etc.

An Old Hymn Still Singing

And He walks with me
and He talks to me
and He tells me I am His own.
Charles Austin Miles 1913

On mornings when the sky is clear,
the air washed by an angel’s tear,
I know that heaven’s path is near.

To walk in the garden and know,
truth from a hymn of long ago,
the song plays in the fountain’s flow,
hush, could it be His voice I hear?

Solitary crunch of my shoe,
antique rose that sparkles with dew,
garden buzzes with life anew,
the melody is present here.

I learned to sing it as a child,
a pretty song with words so mild
and even then I was beguiled,
now my garden sings, words held dear.

--- Judi Van Gorder