Summer's Sun~Villanelle

 

 

 

 

Stormy clouds cried with rain in May

My spirits sank low with much pain

But summer's sun is on its way

 

Filling dreams of a brighter day

Yet my thoughts of gloom still remain

Stormy clouds cried with rain in May

 

My soul in vapors caught, dismay

A damning dampness without gain

But summer's sun is on its way

 

A sponge to soak up disarray

To dissipate storm's dark distain

Stormy clouds cried with rain in May

 

Determined to prolong its stay

Pouring hailstones of heavy rain

But summer's sun is on its way

 

With golden hues glowing each day

Chasing dark blues away which came

Stormy clouds cried with rain in May

But summer's sun is on its way

 

Author's Note

Villanelle

The villanelle contains a total of 19 lines of poetry, split into five three-line stanzas (tercets) followed by a closing quatrain. The villanelle contains a lot of repetition, This type of poem only consists of two rhymes in the entire poem the rhyme scheme is as follows:

aba aba aba aba aba abaa

The repetition is that the first and third lines of the first stanza are alternated throughout the poem, so that the first line of the first stanza is the third line of stanzas two and four, and the third line of the first stanza is the third line of stanzas three and five. The last two lines of the closing quatrain are lines 1 and 3 of the opening tercet, in that order. Confused? I was when I first discovered the form, but it really makes sense when you do it! Perhaps this is an easier description:

Line 1
Line 2
Line 3 (rhymes with L1)

Line 4 (rhymes with L1/L3)
Line 5 (rhymes with L2)
Line 6 (repeat of L1)

Line 7 rhyme)
Line 8 rhyme)
Line 9 (repeat of L3)

Line 10 ; rhyme)
Line 11 rhyme)
Line 12 (repeat L1 again)

Line 13
Line 14
Line 15 (repeat L3 again)

Line 16
Line 17
Line 18 repeat L1
Line 19 repeat L3

Reviews

[Life Calling!!!]

Wow! Such and interesting poem and such an interesting form! Confusing though it is, I think it is a beautiful format that flows so smoothly! I am not one who writes poetry thinking about its form, but this one has sparked my interest...I'm going to try writing in this form....and I shall send a request to you, so you can tell me if its fine.

And the essence of the poem...the wait for summer and longing and despair about the rains is beautifully expressed. Though I live in far-away India, where we are in the beginnning of summer and already hating it...
I could see how eagerly you are awaiting summer! Beautifully done! Thanks for such a beautiful piece!

God Bless!

[Lorraine]

I didn't know that sort of format but that aside, your poem exudes smoothness in flow. I'm not a summer person but from the way you describe it, you make it seem so enticing, I am almost tempted to love summer, except I just can't. Lovely description as always and beautifully worded thoughts.

Keep Writing. ^___^

[.]

even with such a structure the poem itself is really eloquent..for some reason it struck a chord with me..well written poem

[DanaRegen]

Once again this is another great poem, or should I say villanelle poem. Thanks for entering this in my contest and good luck!

[Suelou]

This is so beautiful, Fran. I love the villanelle. Although I only wrote one.

[luthien7]

Very well done and an enjoyable read. The structure is well suited to your sense of dispair turning to hope, and strength Nice job in the Villanelle format.

[Ray Hamilton]

I enjoyed this very much
It has rained here all week
Thanks Ray { Not a Poet }

[Brianna Brie]

I liked the rhyme pattern. It is a rainy day here today, and it leaves me wondering when in the world summer's sun is going to be here to stay. Enjoyable read.

[Sharon Miller Bolander]

Isn't it always wonderful to have summer's sun ahead of us! I really enjoyed your look at May in the interim, Fran. Good job, Sharon :-)

[imm's place]

beautiful,loved the rhyming, mary