Villanelles
Villanelles are a 19-line French poetry form involving a serious subject
described in iambic pentameter and containing two repeating lines and two repeating rhymes.
One of the most famous villanelles, which inspired most of the poems below, is “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas. Avis Harley's “Come, Drum!” inspired most of the others.
Click here for Villanelles by Giselle Ates
Villanelles by Students
"Do Not Swing Gentle into that Fist Fight"
by Ian Jordan (11th grade) Feb. 4, 2015
(Inspired by Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night”)
Do not swing gentle into that fist fight
Your rage should burn and rave at close of fray
Rage Rage against the dying or the flight
Truly wise men claim it is wrong to fight
Because their fists had forked no lightning they
Do not swing gentle into that fist fight
Good men, their last wave, crying faces white
Their worn, frail hands barely able to pray
Rage rage against the dying or the flight
Wild men who caught many, knuckles light
Learned too late what forces to try and slay
Do not swing gentle into that fist fight
Grave men who missed till too late, their plight
Red eyes could gaze like empty moons at bay
Rage rage against the dying or the flight
And you my opponent, there on the dirt height
Curse, bless you now, your fierce blows, I say
Do not swing gentle into that fist fight
Rage rage against the dying or the flight
“Come, Poem!” by Miryam Gabriel (11th grade) 2014
Come, poem! Get out of my brain!
As elusive as a single raindrop,
Dangling – aha! I've found my refrain!
Swirling in fragments, a screaming train.
Though my fingers move, you won't stop.
Come, poem! Get out of my brain!
You flow jagged, give me rhythmic pain.
Villanelle shmillanelle, jump, skip, hop.
Dangling – aha! I've found my refrain!
Maybe this will make it plain.
Nope, I'm certain this will flop!
Come, poem! Get out of my brain!
Hopefully, you won't prove a bane.
I think I found you in a curiosity shop.
Dangling – aha! I've found my refrain!
Figure yourself out, I've nothing to gain.
Dancing verbal insanity, spinning like a top.
Come, poem! Get out of my brain!
Dangling – aha! I've found my refrain!
“I O U” by Miryam Gabriel (11th grade)
(Inspired by Elizabeth Bishop's “One Art" and the Sherlock episode “The Reichenbach Fall”)
I had to walk away resolutely.
I left my heart on the pavement with you.
(Just one more miracle, please, please, for me.)
“Believe a lie as I fall,” you told me.
“It was just a magic trick.” That won't do.
I had to walk away resolutely.
These are broken tears I can't let you see.
I'll be strong while you rest (this is not true).
(Just one more miracle, please, please, for me.)
I suppose your harried spirit is free.
Now I am alone, with nothing to do.
I had to walk away resolutely.
I said goodbye to you under your tree.
I think the leaves sighed with me over you.
(Just one more miracle, please, please, for me.)
I say I miss you; I mean dreadfully.
You'll keep your place in my heart (this is true).
I had to walk away resolutely.
(Just one more miracle, please, please, for me.)
"Deception" by Christian Poteet (11th grade) 2012
Deception enslaves people in its grip
Society confused and on their way to Hell
Christ is the only way to be freed of deception’s cruel whip
Tossing those who are weak like huge waves against a model ship
“You are worth nothing” is what they yell
Deception enslaves people in its grip
Christ cries out they are the reason he made the Calvary trip
Ringing boldly the warning the bell
Christ is the only way to be freed of deception’s cruel whip
Satan attacks through hand and lip
He makes one feel as if all is well
Deception enslaves people in its grip
The truths that Christ gives are more than just a tip
He offers warnings that no man can tell
Christ is the only way to be freed of deception’s cruel whip
Jesus gives us the solid foundation that we might not slip
Satan’s attacks are like highly explosive shells
Deception enslaves people in its grip
Christ is the only way to be freed from deception’s cruel whip
"The Ocean Air" by Ciera Ortiz (11th grade) 2012
I just can’t wait to get there
I’d drive all day and night
All just to feel the ocean air
Caught up with stress? I’ll give you advice
Don’t stop driving till you hit the sea
The cure is found in this ocean paradise
In the salty wind blows my hair
I’d risk my skin for the infamous sunburns
All just to feel the ocean air
Crickets and ukulele stings fill the night
We sit around the sire telling stories
Then we fall asleep and start it all over at daylight
Swimming out far is only for those who dare
I’d take take on the long walk back
All just to feel the ocean air
You can’t get this feeling just anywhere
The ocean is a unique medication
I’d take the time to travel there
All just to feel the ocean air
"Victorious Villanelle" by Cory Avra (11th grade) 2012
I wonder what will become of me
On the day that I will die
But it’s just another mystery
My future is dark and I can’t see
Anything that might pass me by
I wonder what will become of me
Will my death be sad? Will it make them angry?
Will anyone wished they could have said goodbye?
But it’s just another mystery
Under the tree of life I lie free
Pondering quietly about the sky
I wonder what will become of me
Will I invoke envy?
Or happiness imply?
But it’s just another mystery
Will I speak with fluency?
Or give off an ecstatic high?
I wonder what will become of me
But it’s just another mystery
"Whisper" by Julia Pope (10th grade) 2012
Listening to the o’ so harmless breeze
You mistakenly fade away at the latest hour of night
As you listen to the faint whisper amongst the trees
The sound will slowly bring you to ease
And you will be filled with pure delight
Listening to the o’ so harmless breeze
The whole world becomes gray and starts to freeze
And you feel as if you are being held on tight
As you listen to the faint whisper amongst the trees
Alluding you, the whisper is appease
Tricking you to think you’re alright
Listening to the o’ so harmless breeze
Suddenly you feel at unease
You realize your suffering from painful smite
As you listen to the faint whisper amongst the trees
This demonic plague starts to tease
With the paranormal whisper that now brings you to fright
Listening to the o’ so harmless breeze
As you listen to the faint whisper amongst the trees
"Villainous Minecraft" by Theunis Myburg (11th grade) 2012
Farming zombies and punching trees
Let's quickly build a portal to hell
Why do we even play games like these?
There walks and Enderman, but be careful what he sees
And here's a villager, with emeralds to sell
Farming zombies and punching trees
Pumpkin pie and useless cookies
And a pig stuck in the village well
Why do we even play games like these?
A peaceful first day? The skeleton disagrees
So for now, underground you'll dwell
Farming zombies and punching trees
A sudden his, death, guarantees
And where's that spider hiding, I can't tell
Farming zombies and punching trees
Why do we even play games like these?
"Heartbreak" by Tiffany Chen (11th grade) 2012
Slowly I can feel my fragile heart break
Watching you leave causes me to be sad
The tears fall freely because my heart aches
How could you hurt me, my love you did take
I thought I’d have you forever, my bad
Slowly I can feel my fragile heart break
Every morning I do not want to wake
From my sweet nice dreams which make my glad
The tears fall freely because my heart aches
Thinking you were the one was a mistake
Now you should watch out for my angered dad
Slowly I can feel my fragile heart break
All through the endless night I think I can make
Out your face in the shadows but I had
The tears fall freely because my heart aches
When I fell for you there was much at stake
But you didn’t care because you’re a lad
Slowly I can feel my fragile heart break
The tears fall freely because my heart aches
"Endless Dreams" by Ariel Byrnes (12th grade) 2012
I wake to sleep and sleep to dream
I am part of stories that will never be told
And yet, not all is what it seams
Crystalized in my head
Will I ever get to tell?
The wondrous mysteries to be said
But the fun of dreaming is not to end
I will forever be enslaved
To this never forgetting friend
Most are fools to ignore the tales
These dreams are history
Ready to be set a sail
Enchanting yet dangerous
These unpredictable things
But I shall be courageous!
These riptides of the night
Exult in the tremendous play
Because these unending dreams
Are never as them seam.