VILLANELLE
The Villanelle is a wonderfully challenging poetry form. Although comprised only of two rhymes
they are very different in the way they are used.
The unique thing about this form is that the first and third lines of the first verse become the
alternating final lines of the next four verses. So the choice of the first and last line is very
important and more so because in the last stanza they form a couplet and become the "Closure".
If things weren't difficult enough already, all the 2nd lines of each stanza rhyme with each other.
The Dylan Thomas Poem below, is considered to be the finest example of this form and to help look at
the rhyme patterns I've broken the lines into colour. I've chosen Purple
for the first line and Red for third line of the first stanza.
The first
line of each follows the first stanza rhyme.
I've chosen Blue for the centre
line rhyme. This line is probably the most important line in each stanza and the most difficult one to construct
and I would recommend care in selecting your primary rhyme.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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Villanelle Sonnet
The Villanelle Sonnet started out as just an amusing variation to the Villanelle,
but as can be seen from the post below it ended up as a form to be reckoned with also.
The Sonnet follows only the first four stanzas, then uses the two lines of the refrain
to finish with a couplet.
To make it in Keeping with French Forms, if a series of sonnets were being writen, it would be
normal to link the refrains, or to make it more difficult the centre rhyme.
Here is my example of a Villanelle Sonnet
I figured it out
I'm finally giving it up, I figured it out
No longer am I going to search every way
No longer is there a need for you to shout
Each day when I wake there's a loving drought
Each time as I wake there's only pain each day
I'm finally giving it up, I figured it out
No longer will there be coffee's smell about
Breakfast shared alternate bite tasted play
No longer is there a need for you to shout
Looks devoured each other, kissed with a pout
Stolen moments, kisses took as time went astray
I'm finally giving it up, I figured it out
I'm finally giving it up, I figured it out
No longer is there a need for you to shout
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Villanelle Posts
Todd Bush
I See No Fires
I see no fires burning around the sun.
Trouble lingers when others come to dare,
And often wilt when the world comes undone.
Failed lives live listless on glued horizon,
Wasting words with little breathable air;
I see no fires burning around the sun.
Though life is a capsule inside a gun,
Leather flames are spent on eyes hidden there,
And often wilt when the world comes undone.
No practice or petition has begun
To skew hours I ponder and heal in stare;
I see no fires burning around the sun.
To where life falls short of becoming pun,
These forelands appear pungent and unfair,
And often wilt when the world comes undone.
I claim no response, for winter has won;
This star is haste with heart beyond repair.
I see no fires burning around the sun,
And often wilt when the world comes undone
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Gloria Carpenter
Autumn Passion
She splashes passion from her colour wheel,
no apple green, nor cherry blossom white.
He likes bold fashion ~ makes his senses reel.
With golden flair, on burnt sienna heel,
she turns and casts a swath of blazing light.
She splashes passion from her colour wheel.
Intoxicating ruby wine, a meal,
a rich, smooth-bodied Cabernet, invites.
He likes bold fashion ~ makes his senses reel.
Her royal robes embroidered fall, reveal
a luscious ripeness bursting to excite.
She splashes passion from her colour wheel.
Emotional intensity to feel
a tangible arousal, fires ignite.
He likes bold fashion ~ makes his senses reel.
Within this amber ardor, love surreal,
in depths of bliss, delirious delight.
She splashes passion from her colour wheel.
He likes bold fashion ~ makes his senses reel.
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Sternutation
A shipwreck, ribcage strained against the gale
Collapses from the constant, ceaseless stress
A blow by blow; a hacking, howling, wail
As thunderclouds amass and still prevail
An indication of supreme duress
A shipwreck, ribcage strained against the gale
A raspy echo calls to no avail
A battered life raft bobbing SOS
A blow by blow; a hacking, howling, wail
The beating that it takes on such a scale
Unleashes those lashed bindings in distress
A shipwreck, ribcage strained against the gale
Intensity leaves wreckage in its trail
So hard to fathom such an immense mess
A blow by blow; a hacking, howling, wail
The keel upturned gives finish to its tale
As bilge is sucked and denizens digest
A shipwreck, ribcage strained against the gale
A blow by blow; a hacking, howling, wail
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Michael Dixon
The Janitor
ON white washed walls in a gallery I adore
Oily brush's leave artsy impressions on you
You delight on voyeurs senses that come before
Hiding behind figurative lines so demure
Locking opinions and mind with eyes that construe
On white washed walls in a gallery I adore
I glimpse under layers that some quaff are obscure
My realisation that tis you I can see through
You delight on voyeurs senses that come before
I relish in my discovery wanting more
Your window to the world is I you step into
On white washed walls in a gallery I adore
Do others see you? I watch their faces unsure
When the convoy of admirers come here to view
You delight on voyeurs senses that come before
Times up, locking the door Ill be back I assure
Where I can marvel at your unseen nature true
On white washed walls in a gallery I adore
You delight on voyeurs senses that come before
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Mary Evans
Gentle Musings
On babbling waters of a stream,
Where gentle musings bend and bow
Like floating leaves of willow green.
The moon sends silver threaded beams
Through swirling mists that fall like snow
On babbling waters of a stream.
As though it were a Wizard's dream,
An echoed sound from long ago
Like floating leaves of willow green.
Now ethereal airs' have set the theme
As fae and elves prance to and fro
Their laughter babbling in the stream.
This magic is not what it seems
No fairy lights, just stars that glow
Like floating leaves of willow green.
Here Merlin sits, his eyes agleam
He hears Nimue, her voice echo
Like floating leaves of willow green
On babbling waters of a stream.
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Lori Martin
Ghost
PASSING years like birds in perpetual flight
As memories dance on tips of ice-laced trees
Ghosts of naïve dreams haunt my thoughts tonight
Eyes slam shut against encroaching insight
Open to watch fire, chin resting on knees,
Passing years like birds in perpetual flight
Heartbreak mingles with spontaneity’s delight
Lovers real and imagined mock and tease
Ghosts of naïve dreams haunt my thoughts tonight
Life’s battles reenacted by firelight
Hope challenging despair, seeking release
Passing years like birds in perpetual flight
Soul possessed with a melancholic blight
Rocks for comfort, prays for a lasting peace
Ghosts of naïve dreams haunt my thoughts tonight
Calendar pages whirl into hindsight
Tears express emotion not allowed to breathe
Passing years like birds in perpetual flight
Ghosts of naïve dreams haunt my thoughts tonight.
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Time
A TWINKLING star can only fade with time
Our spun glass memories may crack and break
A poet knows so marries thoughts to rhyme.
We strive for life’s summits, miss view of climb
Blizzard blind to fragile beauty of flake
A twinkling star can only fade with time.
Trees whisper secrets; who dares hear wind’s chime?
Or take a day to drift, dream on a lake?
A poet knows so marries thoughts to rhyme.
Herb gardens fragrant with basil and thyme
Warm sun, gentle breeze, ease many an ache
A twinkling star can only fade with time.
Day’s tiniest details are most sublime
Wasted, not sculpted into treasured keepsake
A poet knows so marries thoughts to rhyme.
Hours run with children against adult’s prime
Missed by so many more dead than awake
A twinkling star can only fade with time
A poet knows so marries thoughts to rhyme.
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Maureen Murphy
Pain's Villanelle
Dressed in dream's gown, I saw you pass tonight,
crippled by the weight of unspoken pain.
Your sienna eyes were blind to my sight,
narrowed and clouded with a soul's worst fright;
distressed by love's failure, met once again.
Dressed in dream's gown, I saw you pass tonight,
your shuffling steps betraying heart's plight,
deluged with darkness and bouts of cold rain.
Your sienna eyes were blind to my sight,
unseeing since choice consumed your will's fight;
without sense or voice to impart refrain.
Dressed in dream's gown, I saw you pass tonight
so near, yet distant, like illusion's light;
a vaporous form I could not restrain
as your eyes remained blinded to my sight.
I lost hope's hand tumbling from faith's height;
watching you submit to despair's steel chains.
Wasting in dream, as you passed me tonight,
your sienna eyes obscured from my sight.
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Ryter Roethicle
About Me
FOR a while I knew someone
Who made me feel complete
Smiling now though she is gone
For a while she was the one
Who simply swept me off my feet
For a while I knew someone
When she died life was done
And for a while I felt I was beat
Smiling now though she is gone
Love had briefly shone upon
Two souls that did briefly meet
For a while I knew someone
Soul mate and I meet once again
Finally the closure is complete
Smiling now though she is gone
There was no battle, no defeat
For a while I knew someone
There is no need to compete
Smiling now though she is gone
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Cry Loudly
CRY loudly now, creatures of the night
As bent on it's way the creature flies
Leathered wings beat in the moonlight
The maidens open window comes in sight
Hair askew in slumber on her bed she lies
Cry loudly now, creatures of the night
Changing quietly he moves into her sight
At first there is fear, then loves surprise
Leathered wings beat in the moonlight
Her throat, her soul she offers, invites his bite
Eternal life, but death to see the sunrise
Cry loudly now, creatures of the night
Bodies joined in passion their flesh ignite
A Queen created a Queen of Darkness
Leathered wings beat in the moonlight
With vows exchanged in hellish might
His blood she drinks in wantonness
Cry loudly now, creatures of the night
Leathered wings beat in the moonlight.
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The Gambler
Your love and life are all like a card game
All hoping that fate will deal us out a hand
So different and yet we always wish the same.
Each chance each card, is not the same
All hoping fervently for a love so grand
Your love and life are all like a card game
The lights are dim, the Ace of hearts your aim
You have 16 to show, do you draw or stand?
So different and yet we always wish the same.
Is fate so cruel? A single heart within the frame
Three cards now you are holding in your hand
Our lives and love are just like a card game
You buy a card, dare to look, it's value is the same
Do you dare to see what fate has planned?
So different and yet we always wish the same.
Bust or fame, lay them down and make your claim
Any card above a three and you are dammed
Our lives and love are just like a card game
So different and yet we always wish the same.
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Moonlight
AS I lead you by the hand into the night
Stealing away the cares of the day
And lighting our way by moonlight
My heart is sure what we do now is right
And of tomorrows no hint give they
As I lead you by the hand into the night
The shadowy flutter of an owl in flight
Leads us along our grassy way
And lighting our way by moonlight
I gaze upon your love shining bright
Craving this moment to forever stay
As I lead you by the hand into the night
As our loving bodies finaly unite
And love we will till break of day
And lighting our way by moonlight
Forever bound by this loving rite
Arms and limbs laced in interplay
As I lead you by the hand into the night
And lighting our way by moonlight.
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Release
AS silently, I creep to your bedside
Heavy breath, desirously driven
Tonight, our lust will not be denied!
Fevered body burning hot inside
Wanton thirst for what will be given
As silently, I creep to your bedside
Your sleep lost in wait as I slip beside
Wanting love and whatever is bidden
Tonight, our lust will not be denied!
My lips are hungry your body is fired
In our passion nothing will be hidden
As silently, I creep to your bedside
Feel my touch, your need to be satisfied
The path to release once more is ridden
Tonight, our lust will not be denied!
Finally liberated, our love is cried
And vows eternal are finally given.
As silently, I creep to your bedside
Tonight, our lust will not be denied!
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Leny Roovers
I listen to your voice
I listen your voice from far away
It is like water to my thirsting heart
Our love is growing strong and here to stay.
The choice had to be made that certain day
To be for some weeks longer still apart
I listen your voice from far away.
All days I work and wait for you to say
What day our journey finally can start
Our love is growing strong and here to stay.
Yet sometimes it is hard and cry I may
Missing you is felt like a piercing dart
I listen to your voice from far away.
Most days your voice is like a warming ray
Brings energy and joy into my heart
Our love is growing strong and here to stay.
The bond between us thus will never fray
Though being still apart is very hard
I listen to your voice from far away
Our love is growing strong and here to stay.
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Our views on life
Our views on life might change with changing light
The morning of our Life can be real clear
Quite different from the evening and the night
Not many shadows in our youth we fight
We look at life with pleasure and no fear
Our views on life might change with changing light
When we grow older and come into might
There will be challenges all through the year
Quite different from the evening and the night
All life is asking from us will be right
When we can hold on to principles dear
Our views on life might change with changing light
On looking back on years of love and blight
We see the roads along which life did steer
Quite different from the evening and the night
We can but trust that at road's end there's light
Into this Light we'll go without a fear
Our views on life might change with changing light
Quite different from the evening and the night.
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Since times unknown
Since times unknown you have been part of me
Life after life we met in many ways
But now at last it seems we are both free.
Free to explore, enjoy that which might be
Here for us in all our remaining days
Since times unknown you have been part of me.
It's hard to wait, I long for you to see
The love I feel for you, it surely stays
But now at last it seems we are both free.
Free to let go and use this given key
To happiness filled days with sunny rays
Since times unknown you have been part of me.
It's been a life long wait for you and me
A searching in Life's never ending maze
But now at last it seems we are both free.
Free to love with joy and passionately
To laugh together and to share our days
Since times unknown you have been part of me
But now at last it seems we are both free.
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To the ever reappearing Heron
To the ever reappearing Heron
I have to write these words as a tribute
With friendly feelings I can now look on.
While he waits there patiently till I'm gone
Then grabs his chance which makes me really mute
To the ever reappearing Heron.
In one swift cunning movement he is on
My pond, his long neck looking almost cute
With friendly feelings I can now look on.
He stands there proudly till he thinks he's done
He is persistent, this I can't refute
To the ever reappearing Heron.
My lovely goldfish that has long since gone
Into the warm mud where there's no dispute
With friendly feelings I can now look on.
Until next spring when cold has again gone
We will be friends and I will play my lute
To the ever reappearing Heron
With friendly feelings I can now look on.
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Carly Svamvour
Vanilla
For Bobby McGee, our 15 year old cat, who died this morning
'Twas one of those days at the end of Spring,
air with a faint, but fresh vanilla scent.
On such a Sunday, Death could not take wing.
We stayed in with the ailing beast, speaking
of her and all the time gone by and spent.
'Twas one of those days at the end of Spring.
'Senior Equivalence' - 'Seven Year Thing' -
words spilled from our lips - her scent, age, we went
on. Such a Sunday - Death could not take wing.
All the same to the cat; she did not cling
to words, nor did she know what caused that scent.
'Twas one of those days at the end of Spring.
She knew naught of Tuesday, what rain would bring;
How white blossoms of Sunday, would be bent.
On such a Sunday? Death could not take wing.
Nothing's forever, say sad songs we sing
Blossoms in spring are like time, merely lent.
'Twas one of those days at the end of Spring.
On such a Sunday, Death could not take wing.
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Susan Vitteta
Unable to love
LOVE'S beyond my ability to share
A missing gene? A synapsed brain?
Unable to love, unable to care.
The required feeling just is not there
Time after time it has been in vain
Love's beyond my ability to share.
My heart is a stone, cold and bare
Too old now to learn, to old to train
Unable to love, unable to care.
Born in a drought, born to beware
Supposed love merely passing rain
Love's beyond my ability to share.
Lust has been real, a brief welcome flare
that burns awhile but leaves no gain
Unable to love, unable to care.
I shall no longer try, as no prayer
is able to break through my sealed chain
Love's beyond my ability to share
Unable to love, unable to care.
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Lori and Ryter
Jealousy
I'M jealous of midnight's moon glow
Soft rays kissing you while you sleep
Wish I could be beside you now
Even balmy days that go so slow
And times so slowly forward creep
I'm jealous of midnight's moon glow
The miles apart so far to go
Long-distance love is hard to keep
Wish I could be beside you now
Fingers ache to brush sweat from brow
Curled into ball I lie and weep
I'm jealous of midnight's moon glow
Fate laughed as she dealt us this blow
But for love no mountain's too steep
Wish I could be beside you now
In time our pain will go we know
For now we have to dig in deep
I'm jealous of midnight's moon glow
Wish I could be beside you now.
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Villanelle Sonnet Posts
Lori Martin
Peace
FROM a rocky summit I see
Amongst green trees ponds shimmer blue
The world's at peace as it should be
Lone hawk circles, noble and free
Claiming right to unhindered view
From a rocky summit I see
A buzzing hum, a tiny bee
Dining on nectar, blossom's dew
The world's at peace as it should be
Clear air of dreams breathed in deeply
Times to come washed in golden hue
From a rocky summit I see
From a rocky summit I see
The world's at peace as it should be
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Ryter Roethicle
Nature
WITH every chance new life will start
the simple ways that feel the earth
as one with Nature, becoming a part
Living with the earth, finding the art
feeding, nourishing, finding worth
with every chance new life will start
This simple way builds up the heart
man living with Nature is given birth
as one with Nature, becoming a part
Man should learn and become smart
follow tribal ways live with the earth
with every chance new life will start
As one with Nature, becoming a part
With every chance new life will start
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No Regrets
I DO not regret my life or lose sleep
As it passes like smoke from a chimney
And Winters cold cannot make me weep.
The lessons learned did not come cheap
Bruises and broken limbs are often costly
I do not regret my life or lose sleep.
Yet love is finally here with vows to keep
I am content with things now as they be
And Winters cold cannot make me weep.
Still you stir so many emotions deep
Not losing freshness of passions eye
I do not regret my life or lose sleep
I do not regret my life or lose sleep
And Winters cold cannot make me weep.
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Prisoner
LIKE a prisoner you have me bound to you
But not with chains of hard blue steel
Not counting days and weeks till freedoms due.
There was no crime, or deed, or whistle blew
There are no prison bars, my hands to feel
Like a prisoner you have me bound to you.
Instead its bonds of love that angels brew
A wound from cupids dart that will not heal
Not counting days and weeks till freedom due.
No fear of breakout or escape, no strike or coup
My life is sealed by chance, just one deal
Like a prisoner you have me bound to you.
Like a prisoner you have me bound to you
Not counting days and weeks till freedoms due.
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