Developed by Jim T. Henriksen, a Monchielle has the following guidelines:
- The poem contains 4 stanzas
- Each stanza has five lines
- Every line has six syllables
- Every first line is repeated and comes back as the other stanzas’ first line
- Line 3 and 5 in every stanza rhyme
- The rhyme scheme: Abcdc Aefgf Ahiji Aklml (the capital A is a repetition; c:c does not rhyme with f:f nor i:i nor l:l)
I rest upon my grave
Among withered flowers,
Whom I never held close,
My only companions
Now, who aren’t so morose.
I rest upon my grave
In deep, abysmal peace,
Although, I would rather
Console my little son
Mourning his dead father.
I rest upon my grave,
Dry-eyed in memory
Of once a handsome man
Parading his presence
Before his entire clan.
I rest upon my grave
A mere guise of myself
On a hard earthy bed
Sought after when alive,
Superfluous when dead.