The Romance Reviews

Monday 14 February 2011

The Vines - A villainelle poem by Stephanie Burkhart


A VILLANELLE

This is a French form of poetry called the Villanelle.
This is a 19 line poem with the following rhyming scheme: aba, aba, aba, aba, aba, abaa
The 1st and 3rd lines are repeated in alternating order and appear together in the last two lines.




THE VINES
The grapes grew wild and free.
He walked through the spiny vines,
Knowing the sun and soil were key.

The sunlight pierced the broad canopy.
He laid out his plan along careful lines.
The grapes grew wild and free.

The wind came, rattling the tree.
With delibrate precision, he placed his signs.
Knowing the sun and soil were key.

Frost brought his land to it's knees.
He blew heat on the readying vines.
The grapes grew wild and free.

Clouds covered the insects and bees.
He watched and waited in the lines.
Knowing the sun and soil were key.

The rain drove away the frost until he could see.
Round bulbs of fruit proved a hopeful sign.
The grapes grew wild and free,
Knowing the sun and soil were the key.

9 comments:

Lindsay Townsend said...

Beautiful, evocative poem. Steph. The villainelle is a lovely form, very elegant and precise, with growing power in the repeating lines.

Stephanie Burkhart said...

Lindsay,
I so agree with you. I discovered different forms about two years ago, and I love playing around with the villainelle. It's very changling, but if done right, it shines.

Smiles
Steph

Rue Allyn said...

Very sweet. Love the imagery.

LK Hunsaker said...

Steph, how nice! It can be hard to stick to structure and still have a poem flow. Thumbs up. (from someone who only does free verse, lol!)

Savanna Kougar said...

Steph, beautiful poem. And kudos for writing it as villainelle... shows what I know about poetry since I never ran across this form... not much.

Unknown said...

So pretty, Steph! And a little emotional. I know nothing of this poetry or any other, except something that rhymes. I'm impressed. Celia

Stephanie Burkhart said...

Susan,
That's what I love about the villainelle, it really allows for imagery. Thanks for popping in.

Loraine,
I agree, when working with form poems, it is challenging, so I can see the appeal of the free form.

Savannah,
I didn't know much about it either until about two years ago when I did some research on styles.

Celia,
Thanks, Sweetie. I love writing about nature.

Smiles
Steph

Maggi Andersen said...

I could smell the earth, ans taste the grapes, Steph. Lovely.

Stephanie Burkhart said...

Maggi,
sigh... yes... I love wineries, grapes, and Napa Valley in California. Let's have a virtual glass together.

hehe
Smiles
Steph