Poetry Friday: The Villanelle

Here's an interesting exercise: write a 19 line poem with just two rhyming sounds, and in which about a third of the lines are refrains. The first stanza haunts every other -- its first and third lines alternating as conclusions to the stanzas that follow, until they come together to end the poem as a couplet. Do that and you will have created something called a "villanelle."

Below I've included a) a great villanelle by Theodore Roethke and b) my own attempt at the form. If you're inspired to try your own hand at this, please feel free to post the result as a comment to this post. (It's a very fun excercise; learn more about the villanelle and how to write one here; for another famous example, see Dylan Thomas' Do not go gentle into that good night).

The Waking
by 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 takes 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.

Villanelle Expirans
by Wes

There is one small thing I would have you do
Don't let me down when I look up and say:
"Know I would only ask it of a few"

Never did I deny your silent moods
The time it took all evening to hear:
"There is one small thing I would have you do"

So leave me lying here when I am due
Don't lift me up when I lay down at last
Know I would only ask it of a few

Leaning is taking, the world gives me its hue
My debt called up sings this familiar tune:
"There is one small thing I would have you do."

I held the world dear even in its ruin
Tell morning this with hands wedged into time
Know I would only ask it of a few

The night's last hour on the budding dew
Leans down and waits to feel my arching soul
There is one small thing I would have you do
Know I would only ask it of a few.



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