Psych Ward

A vilanelle

A dressing gown, a light, and fresh-cut grass�"
My vision flashes red, my body shakes,
My heart, a stone, this cell made out of glass.

They gave me yellow pills that taste like brass,
And Betty brings me Salisbury steak,
Dressed in a gown, a light, and fresh-cut grass.

Before they brought me here I’d sit in class,
And hark, what light from yonder window breaks
A heart, a horse, a cell made out of glass.

They said hallucinations usually pass
Within a day or two. Can’t stay awake...
A dressing gown... a light... and fresh-cut grass?

A storm of convict thoughts that flee en masse
From there within my mem’ry’s lucid lake�"
A heart, a shout, and pounding on the glass,

And leather straps, syringes... laughing gas.
And later on the aide will feed me cake,
A dressing gown, a hall, and fresh-cut grass!
Within this mind, this cell made out of glass.

Author's Note

Should I vary the refrain a little bit more, or is it okay as-is?

Reviews

[efflorescere]

I think this is great, but the "-a*s" rhyme scheme felt super repetitive by the time I got to the end. I love the idea of the repeating rhyme, but maybe vary it just slightly or use less of it. Good poem!!