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Villanelle Thread

FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Posts: 12,223
edited February 2005 in Poetry, Prose, Music & Art
A villanelle is a nineteen-line poem comprising five triplets and a quatrain. It will usually be rhymed aba aba aba aba aba abaa. It make use of alternate repetition: for example, the first line of the first stanza will be repeated as the third line in the second stanza, and the third line of the first stanza will be repeated as the third line of the third stanza.

Here's WH Auden's poem Villanelle:

Time can say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time can say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time can say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

Suppose the lions all get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away?
Time can say nothing but I told you so.
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

______

Anyone fancy trying a villanelle?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • oldermanolderman Posts: 1,765
    i'm still trying to compose a Sestina! :)
    Down the street you can hear her scream youre a disgrace
    As she slams the door in his drunken face
    And now he stands outside
    And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
    He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
    What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
    Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
    And his tears fall and burn the garden green
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