Villanelle revisited

Recently I posted a piece on writing a Villanelle with links to sites with poetry examples.  I thought I might now share with you my only effort into this form of poetry, written a few years ago. It might encourage you to have a go.  I'd say that first you need to think of words with many rhyming alternatives - if you pick something obscure  you will struggle!  Write out all the words that rhyme first and think of lines that can be used several times over without it changing the context of the poem.  This form of poetry (like some others) has a system which at first I felt took away the creativeness of writing (for one who likes free verse).  However, it is a good discipline to try.  It is challenging but highly satisfying when you get to the end!  Think of it like a crossword.  Leave it , go back to it, change it.  Tackle it with a light heart - don't let it get to you.  Now, go to it!

Passing Years

To think that once my legs would shake

My body glow, my pulses race

What difference passing years can make

I used to think my heart would break

Each time you welcomed her embrace

To think that once my legs would shake

And all I saw and heard was fake

For she was always in my place

What difference passing years can make

There always seemed so much at stake

I wondered, did you read my face?

To think that once my legs would shake

I left you but for my own sake

Departing from this fruitless chase

What difference passing years can make

And now there is no dulling ache

I hold my head with pride and grace

To think that once my legs would shake

What difference passing years can make

___________

Borrowing from the words of Monty Python....And now for something completely different.  Reading the title poem from Wendy Cope's poetry book Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis reminded me of a dream I had a few nights ago so I wrote these few lines in similar fashion....aplologies to Wendy Cope (and yes I do often have weird dreams!)

Writing a Song for Coldplay

Last night I had a dream that 

I wrote a song for Coldplay

It's not a classic poem

But the title's rather quirky

(I never said it was good!)