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🖌

[Fran Marie]

A lovely enchanting poem. Both in content and fotm..most delightful to read..

Nice work...

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Fran!
You've brightened an, otherwise, overcast day.
Such praise from a seasoned poetess is satisfaction beyond any I could have expected, but I love it and I'm keeping it!

Warmest thank you hug, Lovely Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard

[Valentine]

I am no a judge of any kind of writing. I just know what I like, and this write is beautiful. Valentine Is it all right for me to develop my own style of writing? It all had to start new somewhere.

[Richard🖌]

Well,Dear Kathie,
To be a genuinely fair and just judge of poetry, one must first learn and understand the nuances and requirements, thereof, and not many have taken the time or expended the effort to earn these credentials.
Still, we know what it is that moves us, that which pleases and touches special places within, and this is available to everyone to experience and be captivated by, in some meaningful way, each in our own way(s).
Certainly, it alright to develop your own style of writing … everyone who never formally studies poetry, yet who writes it, is developing their own style of writing, and you are most correct, it all had to start "somewhere".
I have created several original forms of poetry, some of which are posted on my pages here.
Warmest hugs of grateful thanks to you for selecting this piece of gentle fantasy, M'Lady! ⁓ Richard

[Penlady]

While in the GATHER group we posted prompts and I remember doing a Villanelle and will look through my work to find it...it fascinates me how much "counting," there is involved in poetry...I enjoy the discipline of formed work...will try one again...it delights me that a MAN is so capable of affording such an enchanted vision! I could smell the damp earth of the woods and was filled with fascination at the beauty of it all...thank you...you have a remarkable following...so nice!

[Richard🖌]

Where is this/what is this "GATHER group", Barbara?
I will look forward to reading your Villanelle with great interest … I hope you''l post it foe me soon. :)
Yes, formal poetic forms often require considerable practice following the rules before one is proficient at it, and it requires dedication and determination, but with every form mastered comes greater skills and capabilities to compose with excellence in any style of poetry undertaken.
You might be even more surprised to discover what stirs in the minds, hearts, and souls of "a MAN" if he ever learned how to adequately express it.
I am truly grateful and humbled for my wonderful following, and I love them each, Dear Barbara, you amongst them … thank you warmly and sincerely! ⁓ Richard

[Penlady]

Gather is defunct as a writing group but on FB there Is a group called Gather Refugees...

[Richard🖌]

Thanks for the info, Barbara … I'll look it up.

[Patricia H]

I loved this work, although the form is beyond my comprehension (me not being a poet -any excuse is better than none). Again you brought the images to life and warmed my heart. Your poetry has a calming effect on me, especially when I am having a stressful day at work. A "Richard's Poetry Break" goes under the category of "Medicinal Purposes" so I cannot be singled out for being a slacker....

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Patricia! : )
I think in every writer's heart lives a poet and a storyteller of some measure, and this is certainly evident from the words in your beautifully stroked review.
As to grasping the form … I've scant doubt your excellent skills would serve you well in composing a most fetching and captivating Villanelle, if you'd a mind to.

Dr.Richard most happily and gratefully thanks you, Dear Patricia … I feel a lot better now, too! ⁓ Richard ; )

[Ruth]

Left my senses intoxicated! Magnificent poem...really vivid and beautiful! :)

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Poppy!
What wonderful compliments you've gifted this wee tale of fantasy … the imagery of "intoxicated senses" is a fantasy review within itself.
Thank you warmly, Dear Poetess … smiles to You! ⁓ Richard

[Ruth]

Smiles, my pleasure Richard :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Nowt as villainous as a a Villanelle Richard. Too complicated for a simple soul as I. I never could paint by numbers lol. Not saying this is as simple and you are a master of form whereas I am weak upon the lazy mistress and freedom of passion released in free verse. In all though a lovely melodic tale of love expressed in the voice of antiquities romantics.

[Richard🖌]

Oh, John,
You often leave such entreating reviews for my wee efforts, this one among your best.

It is my contention that: To be a true poetic artist, one should be able to express and deliver the essences of their poetic virtues in any form best befitting them, just as there is no single chord or note in music that most clearly and appropriately speaks with the ultimately powerful and appropriate voice emotions and moments need to breathe life into a song.

The Villanelle form allows the reader to vividly receive the beauty, playfulness, and lightness in an enjoyably proper manner or mode this tale of fantasy deserves.
Trick is, to become talented enough to paint by numbers (in poetic form) in such a way that one's skills allow them to create wondrous word pictures that make them feel natural and unnecessary, yet retain the correct poetic rhythm, rhyme, and flow that makes poetry so enjoyable and alive … LOL!

A bushel basket of thanks to you for another splendid review, My Dear Friend! ⁓ Richard

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You are indeed the muse of my reviews dear Richard and I bow to you as a friend and artist.

[Marie]

Thisis lovely. The form is ineresting but does not really matter. The story and the sweet spirt of the story are what really count.

[Richard🖌]

Aw, Marie … you have definitely pushed the buttons that bring a huge smile from the sensation of being enjoyed and appreciated … thank you so warmly, Dear Lady-Poet.
To me, the form is the poetic voice that gifts the spirit and feelings of the story a voice to be appreciated, with the beauty and meaning it deserves.
Each idea, thought, feeling, sensation, etc; has a poetic form that powerfully/beautifully/best expresses it, just as music has the proper note for expressing the words and mood in a song.

Bless you and thank you for sharing this lovely little piece of fantasy with me, Marie! ⁓ Richard

[Kelly Scheppers]

...what's to critique? This needs a symphony to play its beauty!

[Richard🖌]

I think there is so about this, one could critique, and that you believe it is beautiful and deserves a symphony to play it is high praise, indeed, and all the critique I could have ever hoped for.

Warmest, most grateful hugs to you, Kelly! ⁓ Richard

[Cherry Pepperweb]

Oh I love this so much. Fantastic!

[Richard🖌]

Thank you so sincerely, Dear Lady-Poet, for such an enlightening compliment, and for loving anything about my humble little effort … hugs 'n blessings!! ⁓ Richard

[Cherry Pepperweb]

You're very welcome. :)

[Roland Petrov]

I wrote one Villanelle once, and it was atrocious. At this stage in my life, I doubt I still have enough brain cells to attempt another one. But who knows; with you and this poem as my inspiration..... I know this poem couldn't have been easy to write, but as a maestro does, he makes it look easy. Amazing!

[Richard🖌]

Ha-hah, Roland!
I've scant doubt you can compose an excellent Villanelle, had you the mind to.
I thank you ever-so gratefully for your inspiring and gratifying praise … blessings! ⁓ Richard