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One More Triple - the Villanelle

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05-13-2010 at 11:18:47 PM

One More Triple - the Villanelle

The villanelle consists of five triples followed by a quatrain to end the poem. Writing a villanelle is not difficult but making a villanelle interesting, is, based on the amount of times sentences must be used. One needs two very strong lines to pull it off. The most popular villanelle ever written was "Do Not Go Gently into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas. Aside from that one, you need to search far and wide to come up with one that has captured the public's attention and admiration.

The rules are fairly simple. In the five triples, the first line of the poem also becomes the third line of the second triple, and the third line of the fourth triple. The last line of the first triple also becomes the last line of the third triple and the last line of the fifth triple. All middle lines of the triples must rhyme. In the closing quatrain, the rhyme scheme is a-b-a-a, where the second line rhymes with the middle lines of the triples and the first and third lines of the first triple become the third and fourth lines of the quatrain. Sounds easy enough, no?

I wrote this poem as an explanation of how villanelles are constructed...


The first line always goes right here

You must choose well each clever word

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?


The first lines now that will appear

Rhyme with 1st stanza's first and third

The first line always goes right here.


All middle lines must rhyme, my dear,

Although it may sound quite absurd

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?


Five 3-line stanzas shall appear

With rhymes in place as was inferred

The first line always goes right here.


One 4-line verse brings up the rear

The proper style is now insured

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?


So take it from the Balladeer

Of villanelles you now have heard

The first line always goes right here

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?

Now that you have the rules down, let's see what you can do... wink

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05-15-2010 at 10:44:49 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle



The Fuel of Life



We are the children of an endless flight
we are just passing through this Earthen stay
we are slow-learning to control our light.



It's all so new, we still don't hold it right
the mental lasers on our foreheads say
we are the children on an endless flight



with cores of energy electro-bright
with covers changing moods from day to day.
We are slow-learning to control our light



to guide us through the darkest, selfish night
to share in all of life's creative play.
We are the children on an endless flight



without inheritance of wrongful bite
we had to learn what foods are "A ok"
we are slow-learning to control our light.


We don't plant cooked seeds, begging grow, with might
and we grow dark from dead foods, though we pray
we are the children on an endless flight
we are slow-learning to control our light.


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05-16-2010 at 08:44:52 AM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle

Well, Springsize, what can I say....except to say I applaud your expertise here? You followed the form very well and came up with unique subject matter, which is always what writers look for. Anyone can write of love, roses or butterflies. Your topics are from the beat of a different drummer. Write on, poet!cool smile

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05-17-2010 at 04:55:47 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle

You’re Not Here


The hallway stairs I climb, again
My dreams lie up there, I must go
I close my eyes and count to ten.

I place my foot and then begin
To hear you whisper soft and low
The hallway stairs I climb, again.

It matters not how long it’s been
A day, a week, or years ago
I close my eyes and count to ten.

Your absence here is felt within
The shadow of the candle glow
The hallway stairs I climb, again.

I want you now as I did then
But “you’re not here” it’s true, I know
I close my eyes and count to ten.

To not remember where and when
The clock’s tick-tock became so slow
I close my eyes and count to ten
The hallway stairs I climb, again.

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05-17-2010 at 10:33:27 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle

Aria, it's pne of the best villanelles I've read. The form is perfect, the iambic is perfect, the theme of the poem is perfect.....and you are perfect. What more can I say?kiss

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05-17-2010 at 11:25:53 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle

he left her speechless. she opened her mouth to say "thank you" but no words came out....her sister kicked her under the table and left a bruise just below the knee.... startled back into reality, she said, "thank you" as she blushed the color of wild roses.

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05-18-2010 at 07:23:07 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle



Thank you, Balladeer, for all the encouraging help ... and for smiling through it all !

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05-19-2010 at 02:26:52 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle

The Villanelle

As Chopin weaves his lustrous spell,
I choose to roll the cosmic dice,
While I resign my dreams to sell.

I realize now why woe befell,
(Such naked greed will not suffice),
As Chopin weaves his lustrous spell.

Cathedral’s distant ringing bell,
Returns my inner fire and ice,
While I resign my dreams to sell.

Emotions shed, a storm to quell,
An unexpected slave to vice,
As Chopin weaves his lustrous spell.

Why did I seek the fires of hell?
Your conquered powers won’t entice,
While I resign my dreams to sell.

Your kisses cheap, no place to dwell,
Denied their once exotic spice,
As Chopin weaves his lustrous spell,
While I resign my dreams to sell.

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05-19-2010 at 11:25:23 PM

RE: One More Triple - the Villanelle

Very, very nice writing! The form is exact, along with the rhythm and an excellent choice of rhyming words. I especially like rolling the cosmic dice.

Excellent work, friend.grin

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Poetry is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality.

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-English poet and playwright.
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