The villanelle has two refrains
which alternate in every verse,
repeating through the tercet chains.
We like to think it takes some brains
to work the form, it's that perverse;
the villanelle has two refrains,
the only rhymes that it contains
are A and B, not so diverse,
repeating through the tercet chains.
It quickly gets inside your veins,
a pretty, prancing rhyming curse!
The villanelle has two refrains,
and many are the poet's pains
in finding figures fine yet terse,
repeating through the tercet chains.
The final stanza still remains,
and here the repetition's worse.
The villanelle has two refrains
repeating through the tercet chains.
In a list
A contest entry
- Poems about Poetry by micol.
600 points, ended February 22, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think.
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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What a splendid gold ...
which makes me sad that you are not read by millions ... But then: you write because you cannot otherwise, no matter a million readers, or none.
Love to you and congratulations, M!
Myra
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Thank you dear Myra. My readers make up in quality what they lack in numbers.
Perhaps I will be more popular in a century, like Jane Austen was.
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The villanelle is a wonderful form, but it is sometimes difficult to find two refrains that work successfully in every tercet. You have taught a lyrical lesson and I would also like to use this for my students. I was in a villanelle contest recently where the host mandated ten syllables per line as the only way to write this form. You have shown that there are no syllable restrictions to this lovely French form. Congratulations on your trophy. It was well deserved. I read the column on form poetry and your entry was an inpiration. Peace, Liz
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Thank you Liz, I'm surprised and pleased with this outcome.
The villanelle is a demanding form, but that much more satisfying when it works. I would be happy to share this one with your students, and I think the one that I mentioned below to Joanne would also help.
Ten-syllable lines in iambic pentameter make a classical and very beautiful villanelle. Here I have used iambic tetrameter, and I have seen a successful villanelle with odd length lines. I haven't seen a reference that there are requirements other than the rhymes and refrains.
Thank you for such an interesting comment.
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Swell!
Addictive thing, the villanelle
And one that gets beneath your skin,
I think you have described it well.
To find enough rhymes can be hell
You find that out when you begin:
Addictive thing, the villanelle.
It rings out clear as any bell
Or shining like a bright new pin
I think you have described it well.
You'll soon fall under this form's spell
So many contests you may win!
Addictive thing, the villanelle.
It brings the rhymer from her shell
Taking some words out for a spin
I think you have described it well.
The one you've penned is really swell
(I won't say awesome, 'twould be sin!)
Addictive thing, the villanelle
I think you have described it well.
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lol
This is one contest you missed - but this would have taken the gold, I'm sure.
The villanelle is almost second nature to you, thanks for joining in the fun and giving Micol two for one.
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An explicatory Villanelle
which mocks as much as it lauds itself. Very clever, Margaret. Ron.
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Oh Margaret I do love this little teaching villanelle. I always wind up lengthening my lines more and more as the poem progresses. You have really created a compact little example here. I may use this in my own classes if I have your permission.
Love and hugs,
joanne
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Thanks very much Joanne. I wrote another villanelle about the form several years ago, and you may use both if they please you. http://allpoetry.com/poem/1059952
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