Villainous Villanelle: Day 22 of National Poetry Month

Day 22: National Poetry Month

Well, spit.

V is for Vince Gotera, who is probably laughing his butt off at how the universe has conspired against me, today. We all know, by now, that today is Day 24 – but also “V” – and Day 23’s prompts had me stubbornly dragging my feet. Write a villanelle? Grrr. You first. Fine. Fine. And lots of other F-words. You can read my feelings about the form, and my earlier attempts at it, in Villanelle the Vote! If you are unfamiliar with the “rules” of the villanelle, Vince helpfully posted the following:

Maureen Thorson’s NaPoWriMo prompt: “Try your hand today at your own take on a villanelle, and have the poem end on a question.” Here’s a great page on the villanelle: https://poets.org/glossary/villanelle

Robert Lee Brewer’s Poem-a-Day suggestion: “For today’s prompt, write a juxtaposition poem.”

Villainous Villanelle II

Some forms of rhyme and meter I would ban - 
the evil villanelle, of course, is one.
I only write one now to prove I can.

Repeating lines and rhymes - can I enjamb
this one to fit, around the line to run?
The villanelle? I never was a fan.

I fantasize: Were I a laureled man,
I'd take this form and yeet it to the sun.
I only write one now to prove I can.

The critic reads this thing and says, "Madame,
To end its misery would take a gun."
The villanelle? I never was a fan.

I think of running, going on the lam —
I'd give it up, and yet it isn't done.
I only write one now to prove I can.

I toss my pen across the room, yell, "BAM!"
I'm finished now. This wasn't fun.
The villanelle? I never was a fan.
I only write one now to prove I can.

Now go read these fine examples by Vince Gotera and Thomas Alan Holmes. I read Alan’s in the same tone of voice I muttered while writing mine.

Other National Poetry Month Posts

• National Poetry Month, Texas Style!
• Apricots: a Tanka Encompassing Three Prompts
• Bee Sting: Day 2 of National Poetry Month
• Cacophony and CBD: Day 3 in Nonsense Verse and Found Poetry
• Technically, a Writer: Day 3 of National Poetry Month
• Dive: Day 4 of National Poetry Month
• Storm Front: Day 4 of National Poetry Month
• Energized: Day 5 of National Poetry Month
• Grump: Day 5 ½ of National Poetry Month
• Future Frittered Away: Day 6 of National Poetry Month
• Hell, Hell, Hell: Day 7 (More or Less) of National Poetry Month
• Insomnia: Day 8 of National Poetry Month
• Juxtaposition: Day 9 of National Poetry Month
• Knife Edge: Day 10 of National Poetry Month
• Lost a Day: Day 11 of National Poetry Month
• Many Definitions: Day 12 of National Poetry Month
• New Form – Quadrille Quaiku: Day 13 of National Poetry Month
• Ode to Imagination: Day 14 of National Poetry Month
• Pixellated People: Day 15 of National Poetry Month
• Quintessential, Querulous Quintet: Day 16/17 of National Poetry Month
• Renewal: Day 18 of National Poetry Month
• Secrets of the Terrarium: Day 19 of National Poetry Month
• Tenacious: Day 20 of National Poetry Month
• Unruly: Day 21 of National Poetry Month
• Villainous Villanelle: Day 22 of National Poetry Month

Your Turn!

Do you think my determination to write a poem in a form I can’t stand (I mean, let’s get real, I’d rather write a sestina) manages to encompass the idea of “juxtaposition,” too?

Want to try your hand at it? I’d love to see your villanelles – please post them, or links to them, here!