Category Archives: Villanelles

Villanelles

I always think of you on boats

I always think of you on boats,
Remember you on river ferries
Among the cycles and the coats.

The breeze is singing minor notes:
A tune whose timbre never varies.
I always think of you on boats.

Above the deck, a seagull floats,
Its cries the windstorm steals and buries
Among the cycles and the coats.

A single drop of rain denotes
That summer comfort never tarries.
I always think of you on boats.

Inside the cabin, sun strikes motes
Of dust the autumn windstorm carries
Among the cycles and the coats.

At last to dock the ferry floats
To journey’s end, as winter harries.
I always think of you on boats
Among the cycles and the coats.

(I don’t usually do villanelles. Oh, well.)

Villanelles

I am not permitted to call this a villanelle in unofficial communications

(O) Those who say can’t know. Those who know can’t say.
(D) My speech and silence are by law contracted.
(O) I trust my stopped clock only twice a day.

(O) The confidential briefing is today:
(D) [redacted] says [redacted] did [redacted];
(O) Those who say can’t know. Those who know can’t say.

(D) The men in suits want answers, on display,
(N) The public must be led astray, distracted.
(O) I trust my stopped clock only twice a day.

(D) The nuances of evidence I weigh
(N) Have been (for clarity) all but extracted.
(O) Those who say can’t know. Those who know can’t say.

(O) So now the speechwriters can freely say
(N) That he did not what I know he, in fact, did.
(O) I trust my stopped clock only twice a day.

(D) I saw it on the news, and turned away.
(N) The shell was left, the essence was extracted.
(O) Those who say can’t know. Those who know can’t say.
(O) I trust my stopped clock only twice a day.

Originally posted on Making Light.

Doggerel & Pastiches, Villanelles

Ping Brother Richard

> i is king.
> i can has sanwich.
> i is king & i is hungry.
> ping brother richard
> [AFK]
 
> i can has kipr from brkfst?
> i can has cold kfc, k?
> i is king
> i can has sanwich.
 
> why ur in my country fitin?
> were in tewx.
> no mustard!
> o noes!
> ping brother richard
> [AFK]
 
> tuna pasta?
> stfu
> i can has bacon?
> blt?
> i is king.
> i can has sanwich.
 
> WTF?
> woodvilles in pantry?
> clarence is drinkin my boozes?
> ping brother richard.
> [AFK]
 
> i is king
> know how 2 run things
> so wtf is with this place?
> i is king
> i can has sanwich
> ping brother richard
> [AFK]

This is a pastiche of a John M Ford villanelle.  It was originally posted on the Making Light LOLCats thread.

Villanelles

Straw into golden villanelle

A child at risk leads to a hopeless trade.
And now I need your help. Please PayPal me
To spare the innocent, lest all hope fade.

My dying father had no wealth, and prayed
For any suitor who would marry me.
A child at risk leads to a hopeless trade.

He claimed that gold from straw I made.
I never told him how they threatened me,
To spare the innocent, lest all hope fade

A stranger came to spin if he’d be paid.
I was too young to choose responsibly
A child at risk leads to a hopeless trade.

And now the baby’s born, and I’m afraid.
I need the spinner’s name. Then I’ll be free
To spare the innocent, lest all hope fade.

I’ll buy a list of names, if I am paid.
So stranger, can you send some cash to me?
A child at risk leads to a hopeless trade

Originally posted on Making Light, as an attempt to write fairy tale 419 spam.