The Making of a VIllanelle....for those wishing to learn this interesting form

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

0 posted 2016-02-11 11:56 PM

The first line always goes right here

You must choose well each clever word

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?

The first lines now that will appear

Rhyme with 1st stanza's first and third

The first line always goes right here.

All middle lines must rhyme, my dear,

Although it may sound quite absurd

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?

Five 3-line stanzas shall appear

With rhymes in place as was inferred

The first line always goes right here.

One 4-line verse brings up the rear

The proper style is now insured

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?

So take it from the Balladeer

Of villanelles you now have heard

The first line always goes right here

The third line's here - now, ain't that clear?

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

1 posted 2016-02-12 09:01 AM

Haha! I'm laughing at your description, making it fun and easy for the reader to grasp the Villanelle's concept!

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

2 posted 2016-02-12 12:33 PM

How cute, Mr. Balladeer! Now the next step is to print out Jerry's Villanelle and compare it with your advice as a practical example. I am not a very patient person, so I am really not sure if I can do this, but with some time at hand ... who knows.

Nice to see you on board!

Margherita

"Forget every touch or sound that did not teach you how to dance."
(Rumi)

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

3 posted 2016-02-12 11:11 PM

Thank you, Margherita! I wasn't giving advice, though, just pointing out the standard and exact description of how a villanelle is constructed.

Nice to see you, too!

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

4 posted 2016-02-12 11:21 PM

Concepts are always easier to grasp when they are fun...thanks.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

5 posted 2016-02-18 03:32 PM

I thoroughly enjoyed the explanation, but also understand why the form is not for me: I have so few thoughts worth repeating... and being blonde enough to get lost on a straight street, can already see myself getting tied into knots - even with the color guide! LOL

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

6 posted 2016-02-18 10:57 PM

Really enjoyed the explanation, my friend, but I failed the class just after the last . . ."ain't that clear?" lol

j.

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

7 posted 2016-02-19 08:15 AM

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

8 posted 2016-02-19 04:22 PM

Really, Suthern gal? Seems to me I've heard you repeat "I love Toerag!!" hundreds of times!

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

9 posted 2016-02-19 04:24 PM

jwesley, for some it just "ain't that clear".

Just keep doing what you're doing...you're great at that!

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

10 posted 2016-02-22 04:30 AM

You make me want to give it a whirl. You do that to me, you know.

A

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

11 posted 2016-02-22 10:27 PM

Piece of cake for you, Alison, with your talent Show your stuff!

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

12 posted 2016-02-23 01:10 PM

Posted just for you!

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

13 posted 2016-02-24 03:50 PM

Not true! I knew better than to say such and scare the poor man half to death! (Though I may have found other ways to express the sentiment! LOL)

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

14 posted 2016-02-25 09:33 AM

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

15 posted 2016-02-26 07:39 AM

Love it!

Marsha

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-10

Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England

16 posted 2016-03-14 05:05 AM

Good morning darling 'Deer, your writing remains one of the true joys of my life. Love it, and I recall why I am rubbish at Villanelle. The form is not something I can even fake convincingly, I am not good at anything else either, but completely rubbish at Villanelle.

Thank you for the joy I get from your writing

Love and warm stuff

As always
Mushy x x I miss playing in the halls of Pips x x

Tomorrow is another day I don't know what it holds
but I can face the future with courage brave and bold

Footprints In My Heart
Kethry

ken206573
Member

since 2008-10-14

Posts 487

17 posted 2016-03-16 05:37 PM

It's been a while. Now I don't know if it's good...I tried reading yours and another one to see how to go with it. Well let's see if it goes well..might be choppy.

"Popular" with the kids on the block

When I was five years old
alone, No friend in sight
with the bricks I hold.

Crumbling bricks I should have rolled.
Yet, one brick took flight
when I was five years old.

Hits his face, my heart goes cold.
All eyes towards me dark, hateful spite
with the bricks I hold.

Stormed my house, ruthless and bold
to leave me red onsite
with the bricks I hold.

Ran to brother, with everything I told
Walked with me to make things right
When I was five years old
with the bricks I hold.

Toerag
Member Ascendant

since 1999-07-29

Posts 5622
Ala bam a

18 posted 2016-04-06 09:17 PM

that my favorite ice cream!

jjote
Senior Member

since 2002-12-25

Posts 1088
Ontario, Canada

19 posted 2016-04-07 09:36 AM

http://literarydevices.net/villanelle/

says here there's no set rhythm/meter,
but sometimes I prefer having one - sort of gives me some pattern to do skipping stones to.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

20 posted 2016-04-08 01:01 PM

Not bad, Ken, although it is VERY choppy. Also the fourth stanza is supposed to end with the first line of the first stanza. I applaud you making the effort!

Is that a Toerag and Mushy sighting????? WOWOW!!!!!

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

21 posted 2016-04-08 01:10 PM

jjote....true there is no established meter, however the vast majority of villanelles have been written in iambic pentameter, which seems to lend itself perfectly to the form. Probably the best known villanelle of all times DO NOT GO GENTLY INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT by Dylan Thomas, uses that from.

From Wikipedia...

The villanelle has no established meter,[23] although most 19th-century villanelles have used trimeter or tetrameter and most 20th-century villanelles have used pentameter. Slight alteration of the refrain line is permissible.[23]

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.