Writing a Villanelle

This is a blog  that I posted as a lesson in both the INVISIBLE POETS and the WHEELSONG POETS groups on Facebook. Both are living breathing and dynamic aspects of what Wheelsong is about and has to offer. We are very proud of our roster of amazing poets, and their level of engagement. 

Steve Wheeler asked that I place it on the Wheelsong Blogspot as well, so here it is as follows! Please feel free to join in and follow the prompt to post your poems here just as our poets on Facebook do! I will be more than happy to read them and share some collaboration on the colorful villianelle form!

                                      

I’ve been overwhelmed with not only the DIVERSITY of the content incorporated into your group  poems lately, but also the SKILL with which everyone is expressing their themes. 

This exercise is for those poets that are willing to work their expressions into various forms that are used by those masters of old we love so much. Today over our shimmering horizons of creation comes that most versatile of forms, the VILLANELLE (or the VILLAINESQUE).

This form, once tamed, is not as villainous or difficult as it may seem! I would go into the history of it, which is amazing, but this is an exercise. We are focusing on writing here!

It simply consists of five three line stanzas and a final quatrain, with the first and third lines of the first stanza repeating alternately in the following stanzas. These two lines (known as refrains) form the final couplet in the quatrain (or four line kind of line grouping).

Historically, this form on the whole deals with various kinds of obsessions, which appeal to outsiders. The repetition within the verse defies convention to create something very unique. It’s a clever way to write a poem that seems very intricate, but follows a rather simple pattern. 

One of my heroes, Dylan Thomas, used this form to write his master craft poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into The Night”. Notice how the above rules apply in his following effort…

                                     —

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.

                                     —

Pay close attention to the end rhymes and where the repeating verses are set within the poem! They are subtle, but are most effective when crafted properly. It’s a bit like fitting your poem together like a puzzle, with a dazzling picture to admire once the puzzle is set out upon your table.

I invite you to stretch your poetic wings and write a villanelle. Start with an overlying theme within the repetitions of the first three lines that you want to dance with, then go on to spin your partner around in the next four three line verses. The end four line verse sums it all up and repeats your theme. There is no syllable count, which is nice. USE DYLAN’S PLACEMENTS AS A TEMPLATE TO REFER TO IN PLACING YOUR WORDS.

This exercise is another step in adding weapons to your expressional arsenal. The more arrows you have in your poetic quiver, the more you can practice hitting the bullseye as a real deal poet with your variable forms!!!

Good luck my poet friends! Also, please POST YOUR VILLANELLES IN THE COMMENTS below so I can acknowledge your works in a subsequent post. The more you write and get your name out there, the more you will get noticed! And you deserve recognition. EVERYONE OF YOU!

Also, feel free to comment on the submissions below. We are here to not only be recognized, but to recognize others. We are learning and supporting each other like all families do. Only our family is WORLDWIDE!!!!!

As always, the writer writes. I am with you, and I will be commenting on your poem as we go!!! Good luck dear poet, and write on!!! 🚀

Moderatin’ Matt Elmore