Every poet must write at least one villanelle. It's a rule.

Cooling villanelles

Here’s a famous villanelle:

The Waking
-Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light take the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air
And lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

Not so famous villanelle:

Ending
-ME Green

I pick quarrels to ease his leaving
Can’t bear to see things eye to eye
Anger balms the ache of grieving.

I have trouble in believing
That he’ll soon become a passerby
I pick quarrels to ease his leaving.

The words of experts, quite deceiving
That we can part as friends-a lie.
Anger balms the ache of grieving.

Since this act’s of his conceiving
I am irked that he should cry
I pick quarrels to ease his leaving.

He should gloat that he’s achieving
Freedom from longstanding ties
Anger balms the ache of grieving.

Words, like stones, I keep on heaving
What I really want to know is why?
I pick quarrels to ease his leaving.
Anger balms the ache of grieving.

A Villanelle for Zach’s Parents
-ME Green

If Zachary would only sleep.
They don’t ask much.
Life would be so very sweet.

Though Zach won’t yet perform this feat;
He gentles to their touch,
If only Zach would learn to sleep

Three hours at a stretch complete!
The pacifier is their crutch
Life is sometimes bitter-sweet.

Maybe they should count some sheep.
They’ve given him a toy to clutch,
If Zachary would only sleep.

His parents are about to weep.
He’s been swaddled, burped and such-
Life could be so sweet.

A long nap would be a treat.
Why is he being such a grouch?
If Zachary would deign to sleep,
Life would be extremely sweet.

Categories: wisdom