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
- Waiting for the Chimes: Day 23 of National Poetry Month
- X: Day 24 of National Poetry Month
- You Are Here: Day 25 of National Poetry Month
- Z to A, a Reverse Abecedarian: Day 26 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!
Good for you, stretching your wings to write a different style of poetry.
“Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic.” — Robin Sharma
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
Thank you. Sometimes, that “stretching of the wings” feels more like being a kid eating overcooked brussels sprouts or a couch potato dragging themselves to the gym.
Glares…of course it is an Italian form. Half their words end in one vowel and the other half in in the other vowel. Writing rhymes like that is EASY.
Fine, fine. I will attempt.
Villanelle: Cetera Desunt
In the day and night I count
Twenty-four hours cycling away
Until my life’s journal ends with cetera desunt.
You said love would surmount
Difficulties other must pay
In the day and night I count.
Love will be paramount
Just listen and follow what you say
Until my life’s journal ends with cetera desunt.
Help you climb, pay your school, push you up the mount,
Stay, play, do everything your way
In the day and night I count.
Now after years I ask for an account
Begging for your support in a brilliant sunray
Until my life’s journal ends with cetera desunt.
Instead you sneer and discount
My efforts. Refusing to stay.
In the day and night I count
Until my life’s journal ends with cetera desunt.
Wow – that is a too-true story for too many, and I hope not for you!
You nailed it – my reason for disliking poetic forms that originate in languages other than English. It is hard, if not impossible, to be true to the form AND not tie yourself into a pretzel trying to find the right words to conform to both meter and rhyme. I will say it’s a lot more fun when I can get someone else to play, too, and give it a good try! Well done, you.
Not me. But I’ve watched it happen too many times – once being too many and it was more than once.
It’s hard to watch someone put their whole life on hold so someone else can achieve their dreams, only to dismiss them or leave them. Glad it was just observation on your part.
Ha ha – I actually really like villanelles, but mine this month was a flippant one about how I couldn’t write a villanelle, so I sympathize with yours!
https://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2026/04/v-is-for-vegetables.html