The Voyaging Storyteller

A few months ago, fellow poet Evelyn brought the concept of a villanelle to my attention. This poetry structure piqued my interest because its many rules involve repetition and rhyme, things that I find very epic in a poem.

Little did I know that in actually crafting this poem, I would come face to face with the ‘villain’ in villanelle.

Every time I came up with a rhyme, it broke one of the rules. Every time I came up with a delicious phrase, it broke one of the rules. I began to feel as if the Rules were a sentient being maliciously slapping my ideas down.

But eventually, after wielding the powers of a) writing by hand, b) laying on my bed, and c) slamming my head against aforementioned bed, I was able to craft a poem that I am exceedingly proud of.

Mostly because I finally figured out how to follow all the rules.

To catch floating ribbons of dream –

In the weakness of my mind, a hopeless tale;

In the murmurs of my heart, an enduring theme.

~

I’d be better off bottling moonbeams

for all the times I fail

to catch floating ribbons of dream.

~

Frustration at my own humanity reigns supreme.

Why can’t life send me courage in the mail?

In the murmurs of my heart, an enduring theme.

But haven’t I been redeemed?

With Divine strength I can dance along the trail

to catch floating ribbons of dream.

~

For to live without potential fulfilled to the highest extreme

is a cause to grieve, to mourn, and to wail –

in the murmurs of my heart, an enduring theme.

~

So I must forge ahead with full steam.

On the ocean of fear and anxiety I must set sail

to catch floating ribbons of dream

in the murmurs of my heart – an enduring theme.

---

One thing that I did enjoy about this process was how my mind was able to work outside of the box by being forced to work inside the box. This makes sense, I promise. I had to come up with creative ways to express my ideas, ways I never would have thought of if I hadn’t been following the rules.

But at the end of the day, those rules made crafting this poem all that more satisfying. I hope you enjoyed it!

Until next time,

Bon Voyage!

Have you tried to write a villanelle? Do you know of any other cool poetry structures? Did you know that villain in Old French means “peasant/commoner/farmhand”? I sure didn’t until two seconds ago. 😛