June Villanelle

The apple blossom blooms in May:

that’s when I first said, with a sigh,

“I love you, but I don’t know why.”

 

Each seed its season, dog its day,

the law of life from up on high.

The apple blossom blooms in May.

 

I know you’d thank me not to say,

with trembling hand and burning eye,

“I love you,” -- but I don’t know why.

 

Though Spring is now a year away,

I long to see those long months fly,

till apple blossom blooms in May.

 

I can’t say why I feel this way,

no reason see, or sense descry:

I love you, but I don’t know why.

 

I don’t know why the petals fly,

or why, though it’s ordained to die,

the apple blossom blooms in May.

 

I love you, but I don’t know why.

Reviews

[mattavelli]

Hi, Arezzo, I like how you've rhymed this. It makes the repetition softer to my mind.

[Arezzo]

I'm very grateful. Repetition is the whole point of a villanelle, but you're quite right, the trick is to do it without annoying the reader. if you think I've succeeded, then I'm very happy.

[mattavelli]

Sure, you aren't raging against death here. Haha
This rhyme scheme seems suited to a "softer" phrase. My own villanelles follow the ABA rhyme, and those that are written with "softer", less bold phrasing, tend to grate on my nerves with their repetitions.

[Arezzo]

Good and subtle observation!