Write a Villanelle

[cdlight]

I was recently introduced to this writing style through a challenge…since different styles keep showing up I figured this would be an honorable mention… The basic rhyme scheme is below and I have added a few poems for further reference…It’s harder that it looks (well to have it make sense at the end)
GOOD LUCK
CD

A1 (refrain) b A2 (refrain)
a b A1 (refrain)
a b A2 (refrain)
a b A1 (refrain)
a b A2 (refrain)
a b A1 A2 (refrain)

«

EXAMPLES:

Mad Girl's Love Song

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary darkness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said.
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

--Sylvia Plath

«

The Waking

I wake to sleep and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

--Theodore Roethke

«

One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something everyday. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing further, losing faster:
places and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

--Elizabeth Bishop

«

Villanelle for D.G.B.

Every day our bodies separate,
exploded torn and dazed.
Not understanding what we celebrate

we grope through languages and hesitate
and touch each other, speechless and amazed;
and every day our bodies separate

us farther from our planned, deliberate
ironic lives. I am afraid, disphased,
not understanding what we celebrate

when our fused limbs and lips communicate
the unlettered power we have raised.
Every day our bodies' separate

routines are harder to perpetuate.
In wordless darkness we learn wordless praise,
not understanding what we celebrate;

wake to ourselves, exhausted, in the late
morning as the wind tears off the haze,
not understanding how we celebrate
our bodies. Every day we separate.

--Marilyn Hacker

[heart2heart]

I am very familiar with villanelles CD ! Have written many. You're right, they are tricky I'll be entering this thread for sure ;D
Heart2Heart

[sunny]

My loving Feeling



I touch the grass to feel its soft breathing
I feel its tender thoughts of earthy loving
I shiver with tears in such humble nature feeling


The mountain loves the river, as it drifting
I listen to the rolling waves passionately weeping
I touch the grass to feel its soft breathing


With silent airs embrace the hills and trees
The greatest emotions casting on all things
I shiver with tears in such humble nature feeling


Each encounter is longing for warm loving
Every being is seeking for true caring
I touch the grass to feel its soft breathing


Such great joy when oceans caress the shore
true happiness when the sun kisses lands and Moore
so much laughter during storming rains fall


Make no difference if we’d touch each other’s skin
with or without contact the air is still full of loving
I touch the grass to feel its soft breathing
I shiver with tears in such humble nature feeling

[/color]


image:http://i126.photobucket.com

[cdlight]

Good effort Sunny

[heart2heart]

So lovely Sunny, I am delighted by your contribution, well done sweet lady .
Heart2Heart

[heart2heart]

Well, as I said I have written many villanelles, and I wrote my first one by following the scheme in that classic and beautiful villanelle "Do not go gentle into that good night" by the world famous poet Dylan Thomas, he has been my mentor when writing villanelles. Here is that well known poem, and note only 2 rhymes at the end of the sentences !


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 learned, 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.


And here is my villanelle, written this afternoon and probably inspired by the lovely roses portrayed by both Sunny and CD.
This is a sentimental one, has to do with choices made in life, to reflect upon, for good or bad, when I'm in that mood

Some perfumes wake old memories anew
And fill the heart with hope again
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

For yearning dreams are never few
When dream joins dream to form a chain
Some perfumes wake old memories anew

The sweetest bloom that ever grew
That left with me a scent that will remain
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

Since as a girl I wandered through
Old haunts of meadows, fields and lane
Some perfumes wake old memories anew

The distant loch seems soft and blue
Now twilight's hour is on the wane
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

My life was precious there with you
I do not think my thoughts are vain
Some perfumes wake old memories anew
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

[cdlight]

Feb 22, 2009 12:24:11 GMT -5 heart2heart said:

And here is my villanelle, written this afternoon and probably inspired by the lovely roses portrayed by both Sunny and CD.
This is a sentimental one, has to do with choices made in life, to reflect upon, for good or bad, when I'm in that mood

Some perfumes wake old memories anew
And fill the heart with hope again
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

For yearning dreams are never few
When dream joins dream to form a chain
Some perfumes wake old memories anew

The sweetest bloom that ever grew
That left with me a scent that will remain
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

Since as a girl I wandered through
Old haunts of meadows, fields and lane
Some perfumes wake old memories anew

The distant loch seems soft and blue
Now twilight's hour is on the wane
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

My life was precious there with you
I do not think my thoughts are vain
Some perfumes wake old memories anew
My dreams, shall they perhaps come true ?

beautiful...I think that perfumes likes songs can take you back in time...Enjoyable read
CD

[Billy]

great poems sunny and heart2heart!

you are both very talented writers!

[sunny]

Feb 22, 2009 10:55:15 GMT -5 cdlight said:

Good effort Sunny

Thanks CD !!! hug! I am happy!

[sunny]

Feb 22, 2009 12:04:07 GMT -5 heart2heart said:

So lovely Sunny, I am delighted by your contribution, well done sweet lady .
Heart2Heart

Thanks Heart2heart! it is such difficult one to write... I have to follow the example to write it... haaaaaaaaaaaa... but it is so much fun... I love it.. Thank you again my friend! thank you for your kindness! hug!

[sunny]

Feb 22, 2009 17:00:23 GMT -5 Billy said:

great poems sunny and heart2heart!

you are both very talented writers!

thank you! you are very kind!