Woodsprite ⁓ (gentle fantasy)

Villanelle: One I selected for you from the archives.

                             1st Place Winner

                                                          

                    Blue Rose Villanelle Contest

Author's Note

"VILLANELLE"

The Villanelle is Italian (later French), feminine of villanello ‘rural', diminutive of villano ‘peasant'. A form of Italian part-song originating in Naples in the 16th century, in rustic style with a vigorous rhythm.
Each line ends in a rhyme, either "A1" “a” "A2" or “b” with "A1" and "A2" rhymes repeated as refrains; each line is of the same syllable count, and that count is of the writer's choosing … I chose 10 syllables (5 poetic feet) in iambic pentameter, for a nice flow and even tempo; the lines are composed in five Tercets (3 line verses) and a concluding Quatrain (4 line verse), giving the Villanelle 19 total lines.

A1 = Exact Repeat Refrains
a = End Line Rhymes with A1, A2, and all other a's
b = End Line Rhymes with all other b's
A2
 = Exact Repeat Refrains

Thus, the end line rhymes and Refrain repetitions are as follows:
Verse 1: A1 b A2

Verse 2: a b A1
Verse 3: a b A2
Verse 4: a b A1

Verse 5: a b A2

Quatrain: a b A1 A2

One of the most noted examples of the Villanelle form is Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’, “Do not go gentle into that good night”.
Try this form, have fun and enjoy the challenge … the beauty in the end is well worth the effort, and you'll be a better, more accomplished poet for it.

Please, feel free to critique my work, offering anything you feel will help improve it! ✍

Reviews

[William Michael Reeves]

Love the ending. Eternal youth. You are a wordsmith of a caliber I've never been shot with. I've been wounded by Poe. Grazed by Frost. And took a shotgun blast from Gorman. But you hit my bullseye here in the heart of my brain. Please do take aim again!!

[Richard🖌]

Thanks for reading me again, Bill 👍

Your compliment is certainly appreciated … glad this one was right on target for you.

Keep-on smiling! ⁓ Richard🖌

[W. Barrett Munn]

Keko-desu.

The villanelle I've found to be a formidable challenge, and you've done it well. The key to me is to find just the right couplet as the starting point.

[Richard🖌]

Yes, Winston,

If we are able to keep an open mind and heart, coupled with proper study, determination, discipline, and dedication, we can learn to use the magical mysteries of poetry in the most enthralling ways.
The Villanelle is certainly a worthy challenge, along with the Pantoum, Terza Rima, Chant Royale, Kyrielle, but none is more-so demanding of one's true skills than the Sonnet.
It is my contention that, "If we can master these six poetic forms, composing anything else poetically, becomes easy."

Good point you make in finding the key to a Villanelle.
Thank you most sincerely, Syr, for reading and sharing! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Lisasview]

Oh, my dear Richard... I am so enchanted and love walking through a wonderful storybook magical forest along side of you.
Playful and youthful your ... words fill my heart with loving thoughts..oh, so many thoughts..
Another adventure in rhyme for me to look at and contemplate. Thank you!!
Quite a challenge....
Lisa

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Lady Lisa✨

Your review is such a charming gift to an olde bard's hopeful expectations, and how gratifying you derived a lovely level of enjoyment from this rather fancifully wispy piece.
If you've not run me off as your teacher, this is a "test your skills" form we'll soon enough get into.

It's a joy serving your poetic pleasure, Dear Poetess! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Lisasview]

You are most welcome my dearest Richard.
It is always a joy to read whatever you write..
read moreYou are most welcome my dearest Richard.
It is always a joy to read whatever you write..
Lisa

[Richard🖌]

Lisa,
The rest of your message after "read more" was cut-off.

[Carola]

wonderful richard, the story & rhyme. would love to be able to write poetically like that ! unfortunately my style is rather pedestrian, i think it's because i'm not a romantic, & flowery imagery so far has always eluded me.
cheerio carola

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Lady Carola🌟

In your words of praise and expressed appreciation is revealed, not only the warm heart of a poetess, but the heart of a true romantic, as-well … I see in you wonders you tend to shy away from, but they're there peeking out too boldly, nonetheless, for me to not perceive. ; )
It is my contention, M'Dear, that if you truly would love to write anything, in any way, in any form your lovely, creative mind and heart wished, it could be done, and beautifully so, at that.

Take it from and olde teacher, I know … grin*
Thank you, Sweet Carola, for such a fetching review.
Hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Robert Trakofler]

I read this in "behind the smile" I shared this with my granddaughter because of the natural melodic flow that this form has, It is also fun to say the repeated phrases in the different intonations. As I mentioned to you it sits in my waiting area at the Zenith along with neville's new book and when she comes to visit the store sometimes we do a little poetry writing she is getting to be quite the rhymer:) Oh yeah and she loves anything to do with fairies or unicorns LOL. By the way Don't go gentle is one of my absolute favorite poems. I have never had the occasion to meet a fairy but every time I see her I feel like I'm twenty years younger:) This was all lovely in feeling and flow and a fine fairy tale to boot good Sir Richard!

[Richard🖌]

Ahhhh-so, My Keen-minded Friend!
How remiss of me to not recall this piece was included in my book, knowing you'd read every page … call it dotage.
How encouraging to know you're introducing your lovely young granddaughter to the finer classical art forms of poetry; "quite the rhymer" … sighhh!
Dylan Thomas, my great fellow Welsh poet! So very deeply was his mind and heart that his words changed and left an indelible mark on the poetic literary world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mRec3VbH3w
Kids possess and exude a certain charm about them that seems to renew the spirit … bless you sweet granddaughter and her kindhearted grandpa.

With greatest gratitude and humility, I bow, Dear Robert! ⁓ Richard🍃

[Coyote Poetry]

Beautiful, wonderful and amazing tale of loving. I loved the ancient feel of the words. Took the reader with. Thank you Richard for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Richard🖌]

Hi, John! ; )
I'm really surprised you've just now found this one, but I'm as happy you did, nonetheless.
Thanks for finding such favor in it, and for your encouraging words of praise and expressions of appreciation and enjoyment.

"Happy New Year, Buddy!" ⁓ Richard : )

[Coyote Poetry]

I liked this poem and you are welcome Richard.

[kitty]

With light and flirty heart your readers will go with you today to a land of fairytale dreams to let go of the cares of this world, while imagination takes them to beautiful places that only 'dreamers' can ever embrace. Thank you dear 'sir' for affording us the privaledge of sharing the beauty of your talented mind.

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Kitty Dear! 🌸
I love it when you go a'wandering through my older poems … I wish more would, because poetry really never grows old, eh?
The beautiful poetry in this review's words rival those of this rather mystical little piece, and I cannot help being warmed from the inside by yours.

You, M'Lady, are most welcome; I sincerely and gratefully thank You, too … hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍂

[kitty]

Always and forever, most heartily welcome.

[Susan 🦋]

A perfect Villanelle. A wonderful progression of a story line flowing from one repitition the other. Imagery well worded and the fantasy theme surely comes shinning through. A touch of magic wrapped up in a Villanelle.

[Richard🖌]

"Perfect"?
Thank you, Susan,
To receive such an accolade from an accomplished and published poetess as yourself, I am, indeed, overjoyed and humbled.

Thank you seems so trite and inadequate, but it is sincere! ⁓ Richard

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the poem and left the page feeing better than before I found it. Well done.

I cherished the directions, and folded Tab A into Slot B while avoiding Flange C and using the #6 machine screw and NOT the #6 wood screw. I just love it when a plan comes together.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Delmar, for the positive feedback.
I am very happy you found a sense of enjoyment in this rather complex piece, and that it left you with a "better" feeling.

As a teacher of poetry, I often share rules and directions for the more complicated forms, for those who want to try them … I hope you will.

Thanks, again! ⁓ Richard : )

[Delmar Cooper]

Richard, thank you for the form directions. I simply could not resist my smart alec comment.

[Richard🖌]

You are most welcome, Delmar. : )

Smart aleck comments?
I thought they were creatively fun and cute.

[Bala Gorthi]

'Again a youth, my hair no longer grey,
'tis truth I speak to you, I do declare.
How things turn us and transform us is a wonderment and that has come out in your write, Richard.
The form is something to learn. I got swayed in the read of this magical craft.thank you for sharing.

[Richard🖌]

Aw, Bala!
How beautifully your voice touches.
I thank you so very much for gifting me yours.

The site, obviously, did not let me know of your review, but I love it! ⁓ Richard : )