Villanelle
The words stuck in my head
Refusing to take their place
Leaves my soul feeling dead.
No reason given me instead
Just trapped in enclosed space
The words stuck in my head.
Never written, still unread
Aimless words no form embrace
Leaves my soul feeling dead.
Befuddlement brings on dread
Tightening my breathing space
The words stuck in my head.
Withdrawn mood leaves unsaid
true feelings, now misplace
Leaves my soul feeling dead.
Mind and heart, words unwed
Makes a void in tattered lace
The words stuck in my head
Leaves my soul feeling dead.
Labels: poetry thursday, Villanelle
posted by rel at 4:49 AM
21 Comments:
You know, this is exactly how I thought writng a villanelle would be. And then it wasn't bad at all! Nice capture of that 'writer's block' feeling. Thanks for sharing this.
It does seem to a compulsive form; prone to melancholy and malaise. You've shown the way to write one here.
I've never heard of a villanelle (philistine that I am), but I like this one very much :)
This captures the similar thoughts I had when I wrote my first villanelle a few days back. Though mine was on writing a villanelle!! Do read both whenever you have time.
This was just so... so... brilliant. The emotion expressed in this restrictive form of the villanelle is amazing, rel! I hope to never get words stuck inside my head!
This works really well and I can relate, that's how I feel about writing a villanelle, though I will eventually.
You chose a perfect topic for this form and did an awesome job!! XXOO
"Makes a Void in tattered lace" - nice job.
Hi Rel:-) I'm back from my trip and trying to play catch up with everyone! I hadn't heard of a villanelle before so I looked it up:
"A villanelle is a poetic form which entered English-language poetry in the 1800s from the imitation of French models. A villanelle has only two rhyme sounds, and the first and third lines of the first stanza are rhyming refrains that alternate as the third line in each successive stanza and form a couplet at the close. A villanelle is nineteen lines long, consisting of five tercets and one concluding quatrain."
Well, now I know and understand your poem so much better...I think! lol xox
I can't tell you how many poems I read about not being able to write a good villanelle. The irony is that you've written a good one.
Now that's sneaky.
"Befuddlement brings on dread . . ."
"Aimless words no form embrace," and ". . . words unwed"
Well done.
And "The words stuck in my head" is reminiscent of the "I think I made you up inside my head" by Sylvia Plath.
That last stanza is fabulous -- love the imagery of the tattered lace!
not bad for someone who coudn't think of anything to say!
“Befuddlement brings on dread” and "words unwed" will surely stick in MY head!! Well done! Enjoyable, love the illustration at the top, very appropriate! I agree, I was a bit nervous about the structure this week too!
Peace Giggles
I've been catching up on your blog - makes for fascinating reading. Seems not all those words are stuck!
Rel, I too had not known about villanelle before and still do not know enough so will follow Pea's lead and read some more about it.
I do want to say I loved! LOVED! your sunday scribblings and had to tell myself to breath I was so taken by every word....thankyou
Lee-ann
Forever and always I have words stuck in my head...and, to the consternation of others...I let them out!
I'm a bit like Lee...open my mouth and out it all comes...the words, I mean.
I've never heard of villanelle, so looked it up and that's my something learnt for today. But I have heard of writer's block, suffer from it fairly regularly.
I had no idea what a villanelle is either but your poem made me feel how awful writers block must be.
I never heard of a villanelle before either, but it doesnt sound like any fun!
Do we get to hear about D.s trip? Did you have the house in ship shape order for her return? Did you have a nice bottle of wine chilling and some appetizers? That would have been a great touch Rel!
This is great, Rel, if dark and depressing! :) I don't think what I wrote was a villanelle, but hey, ho! My husband and I were discussing you and D at dinner and your upcoming visit. :)
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