May Mania ~ Stretch #21

Dip your plume in ink and try your hand at a rigid form of poetry like a villanelle. The villanelle consists of 19 lines: 5 tercets [3 lines] and 1 quatrain [4 lines]. The 1st line of the 1st tercet is repeated as the last of the 2nd and 4th. The last line of the 1st tercet is repeated as last of the 3rd and 5th. Then, those two repeated lines end the quatrain. And the rhyming structure is basically like a stack of Oreos, all the chocolate cookies have to rhyme, and all the cream filling has to rhyme. And at the very bottom is an extra chocolate piece.

You can use iambic tetrameter, in essence eight beats per line, or iambic pentameter, ten beats per line.

Try writing a villanelle. It seems difficult but start small. First, brainstorm several lists of words that rhyme so you build a good pool to dip into for inspiration and direction. Once you have some pieces to work with, think of a concept, the point of your poem You can go for any concept like frustration over not being able to find what you need at the mall or a wedding that's gone horribly wrong. Then start experimenting and stringing some sentences together.

Here's an example of a villanelle I wrote:

~ The Chill ~

Though warmth of sun doth not end nights
As haunting voice springs from the tomb
Love’s whispers break the chill that bites

My broken wings don’t soar in flights
At dawn you come and fill my room
Though warmth of sun doth not end nights

You raise me up to higher heights
Replace my frost with heat in womb
Love’s whispers break the chill that bites

Your presence here rids all my frights
The darkness fades along with gloom
Though warmth of sun doth not end nights

Fret not, my love, the call to lights
Find warmth inside, beyond the doom
Love’s whispers break the chill that bites

I’ll miss your touch, these hints and sights
But peace has now become my groom
Though warmth of sun doth not end nights
Love’s whispers break the chill that bites

Push yourself in new directions. Creative exercise is fun and awesome, especially when you accomplish a feat you never thought you could. Keep at it.

~ Signing off and sending out cyber hugs.