Sweet darling, accompany me I pray.
Our hearts and souls aligned, yet still we spar.
I promise to lead thee nowhere astray.
Your eyes whisper words, seem softly to say
whither we goest? And the door’s left ajar.
Sweet darling, accompany me I pray.
As the moonlight glistens, gifts our soiree,
I shall protect thee as a fragile star.
I promise to lead thee nowhere astray.
Your scent my dear, an enticing bouquet
beguiles my mind, my loins, I lust too far.
Sweet darling, accompany me I pray.
To kiss, to hold. How this resolve doth sway,
struggles to recall who and what we are.
I promise to lead thee, nowhere astray.
Do think of me as in Romeo’s day,
’tis painful unrequited love to bar.
Sweet darling, accompany me I pray.
I promise to lead thee nowhere astray.
It’s Thursday at dVerse and Frank asks us to write a Villanell, a 19 line poem: 5 tercets followed by 1 quatrain. Within the first tercet, the key lines are 1 and 3. They’re repeated in a prescribed order. Also, the rhyme scheme is quite strict: only an “a” (IE pray, astray, say, soiree etc) and “b” (IE spar, ajar, star, far, etc). So it should look like this:
1a, 2b, 3a (numbers = lines; a and b = rhyme scheme)
4a, 5b, 1a (line 1 repeated)
6a, 7b, 3a (line 3 repeated)
8a, 9b, 1a (line 1 repeated)
10a, 11b, 3a (line 3 repeated)
and finally the quatrain:
12a, 13b, 1a again, 3a again
It’s a poetic sudoku!! Frank does indicate that we do not have to follow iambic pentameter — thank goodness! 🙂 The challenge is to have some kind of meaningful flow and sense to the piece. Needless to say, I find this extremely difficult….but at dVerse, I’m always willing to give it a shot 🙂
Pub opens at 3 PM. Stop by and see what others have done with this unique form!
lillian the home poet 
Really lovely. The repetition line worked really well, highlighted his yearning and his desires.
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Thank you! Really appreciate your reply. I struggled with this one!
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I find villanelles difficult. The message or theme of yours about not leading a loved one astray is very nice and it sounds nice with the four accents per line.
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Thanks, Frank. Glad you enjoyed.
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And a nice shot it is! This is wonderful, Lillian!
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Thank you, Jilly. We had a busy weekend…just catching up! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed this one. I find these kinds of forms really really challenging!
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Love this… it’s giving that yearning so well… there is that element that a villanelle lends itself to… maybe it’s the repetition, giving it a sign of desperation.
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Yes, this chap is really struggling to remain gentlemanly!
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I think you did a great job and it also feels like a romantic solstice poem.
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Oh, thank you so much Alison! 🙂
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Wow! I certainly did not know poetry could be so complicated. Very well done! I love the repeated lines, they are so lovely. 🙂
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Thanks, Adda. dVerse really comes up with some challenging forms. Most I’ve never heard of either! 🙂
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This poem is like an heirloom, passed from generation to generation. You used the form to great effecting there is such a gentility to it, Lillian. Love this.
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Thank you so much, Walter. Kind words you’ve given here. Truly appreciated!
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Love the gentle plea specially with these lines:
Sweet darling, accompany me I pray.
I promise to lead thee nowhere astray.
Admiring your poetic lines here:
As the moonlight glistens, gifts our soiree,
I shall protect thee as a fragile star.
I agree, this form was very challenging !!!!
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Ah…dVerse….I do learn a lot here 🙂
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A beautifully drawn villanelle, Lillian. Surely now your love is convinced you won’t lead him astray!
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Challenging to write, that’s for sure! Glad you enjoyed.
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I love the medieval metier for a lusty love song. Very effective use of the form, and very lyrical in its presentation. I couldn’t look away!
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Ah, thank you Gay! Your words are truly appreciated here.
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Twas medieval & classic in feel & looks–which you accomplish superbly; managing to make being in lust a classy wrestling match. You rocked the prompt & kicked up the sensuality & romantic timbre. Bjorn does this a lot, but it seems beyond my personal grasp.
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Ah…lust in a gentleman….the times were quite different then! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed. Busy weekend so just now catching up!
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I liked the classic theme of this villanelle and the musical quality you brought to it.
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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
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I love the tenderness and deep longing here…and also the contrast between, lusting too far and the promise.
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Ah yes….tempering his actions with his promise….and trying so hard to stay within his words. A true gentleman…
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And it’s a good shot 🙂 I was half-expecting a denouement rather like My Last Duchess, which is what your poem made me think of.
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I learn a lot at dVerse…..:) Challenges and then friendly critics. A very good combination!
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The criticism is more what I’d call encouragement. I’m certainly not confident enough to be able to cope with close analysis 🙂
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And that’s why I love it! 🙂 Exactly 🙂
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Let’s hope it stays that way 🙂
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Nice villanelle, Lillian. Love the photo, too. Like your words, it’s soft and gentle, blowing in on a fragrant breeze.
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Thank you. Yes, your words are exactly why I chose this photo over others. So glad you enjoyed!
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Love song of a gentleman – so original Lilian and could not help but follow with that opening line
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Thank you, Laua. Chivalry in his words 🙂
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Beautiful – and beautifully realised.
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So glad you enjoyed, Rosemary. Tough challenge…took a long time writing this one. 🙂
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Brava! 🌹🌹🌹😎
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Thank you!
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Follow you Follow back?
Loved the peom
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So glad you enjoyed! NIce to see you here 🙂
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