Ah, blessed sleep!

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By Storytellersrus


What is a Villanelle?

Villanelle comes from the word villa, meaning country house and seems a relaxing, refreshing sort of poem consisting of rhyming lines interrupted by an unrhymed line, forming a three line first stanza.

The second stanza couplet rhymes with the first couplet and the middle line rhymes with the unrhymed line in the first stanza. 

The first line from the orignal couplet becomes the last line of the second and even numbered stanzas.  The second line from the original couplet becomes the last line of the odd numbered stanzas.  And the final stanza ends on an even stanza with the final line, the second line of the original couplet.

Right!


Morning Villanelle

Ah blessed sleep, no matter how achieved
Pink light fills the room with promise
Dreams of a world beyond this bed conceived

Waking with hope, stressful worries reprieved
Shadows flicker a stolen kiss
Ah blessed sleep, no matter how achieved

Upon the window, dribbling snow perceived
Warmth a white glow reflecting bliss
Dreams of a world beyond this bed conceived

Frigid floorboards shock like cheerfulness thieved
Deadened sounds of a furnace hiss
Ah blessed sleep, no matter how achieved

Toothbrush timbers in complex tones aggrieved
Wafting scents hit doubting Thomas
Dreams of a world beyond this bed conceived

Coffee! Oatmeal! Awakened gifts received
Scalded tongue completely remiss
Ah blessed sleep, no matter how achieved

Bundled in sweats and boots, winter coat sleeved
Soggy sidewalk jog, trash day this
Dreams of a world beyond this bed conceived

The moment is now, the night has been grieved
Sun lights dog and walking princess
Ah blessed sleep, no matter how achieved
Dreams of a world beyond this bed conceived

Comments

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lbtrader profile image

lbtrader  says:
2 months ago

how poietic...let me try...

casting spells of words

impressions on the psyche

as though stricken by the sword

____________

of a mighty knight or lord

come upon in the night

illogical to my norm

______________

like in that bed of yours

if so your are right

this villanelle stinks more

as though stricken by the sword

Jaspal profile image

Jaspal  says:
2 months ago

That's a nice one again Story! Reading the rules at the beginning of the hub had me a bit confused, but in the composition it all made sense and came out so well. You should write poetry - lots of it - comes naturally to you.

Will I give it a shot like Ibtrader above? Maybe, but not right now ... this will require sitting down with a pen and paper ... :)

Storytellersrus profile image

Storytellersrus  says:
2 months ago

It is fun to try new forms! There are lots of rules to this one, but that makes it intellectually challenging. It does require a bit of time- for me at least. It took me all morning to shape mine and it could use some editing. Thanks you two, for giving me the courtesy of a read and a comment.

Amanda Severn profile image

Amanda Severn  says:
2 months ago

Your hubs on poetry in all it's forms are a real education. I'd heard of a villanelle, but hadn't known the rules before. Although I have to say that reading the rules, for me at least, was like reading the rules of cricket! Confused? You bet! But your lovely poem made it all much clearer.

Storytellersrus profile image

Storytellersrus  says:
2 months ago

Thank you, Amanda. I agree, the rules are confusing until you lay them out with the poem. I figured I would outline them so the poem form made sense in practice. Glad you stuck with it!

Shalini Kagal profile image

Shalini Kagal  says:
2 months ago

S - you explained it so well. And your villanelle is so perfect - the form and content meld so well together. I remember reading another one on HP recently - I think it was by Paraglider.

Storytellersrus profile image

Storytellersrus  says:
2 months ago

Shalini, I appreciate your critique! I will have to check out Paraglider's hub. Thanks for the referral.

dohn121 profile image

dohn121  says:
6 weeks ago

I really enjoyed reading this, storytellersrus. You have such a knack for taking on any and all challenges. I'm not sure if I could write a villanelle as well as you! Thanks so much for introducing me this form of poetry. Fabulous job!

Storytellersrus profile image

Storytellersrus  says:
6 weeks ago

dohn121 I am not sure you could have said anything that pleased me more. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

JGelineau  says:
6 weeks ago

Great poem! I'm pleased that you had the courage to take on a new form of poetry. The results are amazing, just like sleep is.

Storytellersrus profile image

Storytellersrus  says:
6 weeks ago

Thank you JGelineau! I find when I work out a poem in a new form, I am energized the rest of the day. It is like sleep!

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester  says:
6 weeks ago

I love it! Great poem. For me, early morning is my favorite time of day. Especially with the blessed gift of coffee received :) I also like your description of villanelle poetry. I had never heard of that classification before. Very cool. Keep up the good work!

Storytellersrus profile image

Storytellersrus  says:
6 weeks ago

thanks benjimester! coffee... some days it is the ONLY perk, lol.

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