Love flows unrestricted from his soul,
the wise man knows to let the feeling go;
desire imprisons both its host and goal.
He gathered up his shards to make them whole,
and knowing pain, he made an end to woe -
Love flows unrestricted from his soul.
Unwitting ones manipulate, cajole
to get their way; and reaping what they sow,
desire imprisons both its host and goal.
Expansive heart! Capricious men are droll.
The wise man will forgive his foolish foe,
for Love flows unrestricted from his soul.
He learned by doing, he has played that role,
and left the stage to others long ago,
desire imprisons both its host and goal.
The wise man saw at last the thief who stole
his peace, it was himself. Now that he knows,
Love flows unrestricted from his soul.
Desire imprisons both its host and goal.
Author notes
The wise man will love; all others will desire.
-Afranius
There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart's desire. The other is to get it.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950),
"Man and Superman" (1903), act 4
In a list
A contest entry
- Write a villanelle, Sonnet or Ode that is not maudlin or erotic. by Winklings.
800 points, ended October 22, 2007, 21 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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pretty splendid piece of writing i think. form and theme mesh well. very impressed. good luck indeed.
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Thank you Dan, I'm happy you enjoyed it. I will see what you are up to these days.
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Very nice ...
and very nicely done.
Thanks for entering. -
I agree with the 4 judges ...
this is a very good villanelle.
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Thank you Jim.
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It is my job to tell you
that four judges think that you have done very well.
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Thank you Ron. Happy judging!
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Villanelles are not easy to write
and, once having written, to say "this is right"; yes, the way I want my wisdom out!
Your poem dispels doubts of weaknesses common to villanellists in contemporaneous scenes.
Ding dong DERRY.
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Thank you for your appreciation, Dr. Coolderry.
I tossed my first 20 villanelles in the rubbish heap after reading some really good ones in Old Poetry.
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Food For Thought
Villanelle that flows with a wisdom, a morale, a way
that should be and then its tragedy..love is quite the paradox ..Weaved with inspiration and the affections
of man. Original and creative..I enjoyed this, it was a learning villanelle..
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Some wise and deep introspection of thoughts capturing many different moment reflecting one to others - life and love. This is so nice done dear friend.
~Sonja~
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an interesting theme about the wise person...
...with deep thought and strong feeling. I like the way you develop the theme throughout your poem and finish with such a conclusive verse.
The poem is beautiful and a delight to read.
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Thank you for your comment Mr Adams. The wise person is not stinting with affection, because the chance to show it may not come again. You show your wisdom here. Thank you.
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Fantastic piece...!
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Very deep and thought provoking take on some already deep quotes. This is wonderfully written. Great job. Thanks for entering and good luck.
Jeannie
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Thanks for applause Jeannie, and thank you also for the opportunity to show this villanelle again. Best wishes!
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This is really good. I really liked every line of it.
Thanks so much for entering. -
Bernard Shaw was a big grump...he had a lot of pessimistic things to say...no wonder he and I are friends.
You've penned tragic words, which I'm afraid are true...not that I know anything of love, passion or desire...but I see others.
This has the style of classic writing and enjoyed it very much...it's a style I love....Okay, like.
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This left me speechless. It's sooo powerful and true. The best of luck to you in the contest
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As always, Margaret, a beautiful piece so worthy of a gold! You have such wisdom yourself, and you lend it well to your characters. I'll just have to put this one into my bookmarks as well. Love, Patricia
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Excellent!
WOW! The best monorhyme I have ever read and is another style of poetry as well isn't it. You must be a poetic genius. Simply, one of your best!
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Absolutely beautiful, Margaret! This is going on my bookmarks!!!
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Thanks Elisa,
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Oh, this holds all too much meaning for me, personally.
It speaks right through me, to me, for me.
It is also so, as is usual for you, dear Marg
so beautiful, it sings, you are such a master of the forms you use and make it all look so easy, which it is anything but, you are so gifted.
I wish you good luck in the contest, you've written a beautiful entry full of meaning and the sound of the poem sings out softly and is so especially wonderfully written, sigh~
Thank You for this!
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Dear Micha, you are one of the wise ones. You inspire love in everyone you meet. It is a pleasure to give you pleasure.
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Perfection!
I have never used that word in a review before because it is an absolute. This poem cannot be improved in its meaning, flow, or form. It is not the art of its meaning so much, although there is a magic inevitability in its sequence, but the truth of its message: selfless love, unconditional, ro rare, so essential!
People overuse the word 'flow,' reducing it to a mere trickle, as in anything that can be read without stumbling, while here it has a *rightness* to its next thought, surging from what came before. I have never seen the villanelle form naturally used like this as a vehicle for carrying the meaning with enhanced reality.
Even a morning of tutoring between first reading and the appearance of this review did not dim its indelible value as an exemplar of its form. Powerful quotations blend into one mighty poem.
Terry
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Dear Terry, thank you so much, that is extremely high praise. I started this villanelle with one tercet last night, and the rest came very quickly this morning. I have learned to give some time to the "muse" and it often works.
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The wise man just gives of himself; everyone else holds back; that's what I get from that Afranius quote. "Desire imprisons both its host and goal" works for me in light of that.
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Just so, Marcy. The wise man is what he is, the others expect something from the people around them. Thanks for your applause and thoughtful comment.
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Amen!
Wise and true! You have hit the mark again with this fine villy. You make these tricky forms look so effortless.
Interesting to note that the word karma literally translates as 'desire'
Always loved that ironic quote of G B Shaw's too
Brava!
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