Written for dVerse MTB: Returning to Fours,
where our host, Laura, invites us to
write a four-quatrain Retourne.
bright stars draw shapes across the night
ancient figures in the darkness
burning pilots of the great deep
guardians of the heavenly sphere
ancient figures in the darkness
tracing bright myths in silent skies
brave hunters stride with bow and shield
wild beasts of sparkling silver dust
burning pilots of the great deep
brave hunters stride with bow and shield
sailors find their true northern path
now lost in time and boundless space
guardians of the heavenly sphere
great beasts of sparkling silver dust
vanished in time and boundless space
embers of the uncharted dawn
NAR©2026
Nancy’s Notes: The Retourne is an unrhymed poem of four quatrains, with each line consisting of eight syllables. The first stanza’s second line becomes the second stanza’s first line, the first stanza’s third line is the third stanza’s first line, and the first stanza’s fourth line is the fourth stanza’s first line.
This is “Planet Caravan” by Black Sabbath
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
