We’ll know this Love
A Villanelle
for Wendy
We’ll know
this love until our last goodbyes,
Till on my
grave is laid your last bouquet,
Until no
tears shall moisten these blind eyes.
Though we
may never understand the ‘whys,’
Our love
will mark the progress of each day,
We’ll know
this love until our last goodbyes.
In measured years we learn what love implies,
And walk in sunlight though the sky is grey,
And walk in sunlight though the sky is grey,
Until no
tears shall moisten these blind eyes
If death’s
the end, then love is the surprise,
That’s
proven life is more than a cliché,
We’ll know
this love until our last goodbyes.
Throughout
the minutes till my final cries,
I’ll
treasure all you do, and all you say,
Until no
tears shall moisten these blind eyes.
For sharing
love has been our greatest prize,
All of
life’s pain its presence can outweigh,
We’ll know
this love until our last goodbyes.
Until no
tears shall moisten these blind eyes.
© James
Rainsford 2013
Note to readers: Re-linked as it fits this challenging theme.
This is a villanelle, one of the most challenging of poetic forms. It is a nineteen-line form consisting of five tercets followed by a quatrain. There are two refrains and two repeating rhymes, with the first and third line of the first tercet repeated alternately until the last stanza, which includes both repeated lines. The villanelle is an example of a fixed verse form.
In this particular example I set myself the additional challenge of ensuring that each one of the nineteen lines contained exactly ten syllables.
Memorable examples of villanelles have been written . My favourites among them are: 'Mad Girl's Love Song' by Sylvia Plath, 'If I Could Tell You' by W H Auden, and of course, 'Do not go gentle into that good night' by Dylan Thomas.
I hope you think the end result was worth the effort. Your opinions are most welcome.
Kind regards to all at dVerse Poets. James.
This is a villanelle, one of the most challenging of poetic forms. It is a nineteen-line form consisting of five tercets followed by a quatrain. There are two refrains and two repeating rhymes, with the first and third line of the first tercet repeated alternately until the last stanza, which includes both repeated lines. The villanelle is an example of a fixed verse form.
In this particular example I set myself the additional challenge of ensuring that each one of the nineteen lines contained exactly ten syllables.
Memorable examples of villanelles have been written . My favourites among them are: 'Mad Girl's Love Song' by Sylvia Plath, 'If I Could Tell You' by W H Auden, and of course, 'Do not go gentle into that good night' by Dylan Thomas.
I hope you think the end result was worth the effort. Your opinions are most welcome.
Kind regards to all at dVerse Poets. James.
The dreaded villanelle is handled masterfully under the direction of your pen. I will admit, though it is an outstanding, beautiful poem...I leave envious, both of your skill...and of knowing a love like this...I do have to confess however...you did turn today's frown upside down. Fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful and fine form James ~ I like the rhymes and refraining lines specially:
ReplyDeleteWe’ll know this love until our last goodbyes.
sharing love has been there greatest prize...true that....man i have never worked this form and you do it very well...and love is one of my fav topics as well....love like this is a beautiful thing...
ReplyDeletenice...happy birthday to the one you love...smiles...
Deletethe villanelle is my fav form as well and the two you mention are great examples...really like yours much, the warmth and love that carries, gentle and strong... very well done james
ReplyDeleteMost likely the most heartfelt poem of love and devotion I have read. Wow. The form executed to perfection, the emotion shared with language that all can feel and depth to envy. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful villanelle, James, using the form meticulously yet with great soul and feeling. I especially like the middle of it, the third and fourth stanzas--they convey such authentic human truth. I'm very fond of the villanelle as a form, much more so than the flashier sonnet, say, because I think the repeating refrain lines are a really important resonance in poetry. You definitely underline that idea here.
ReplyDeletesweet in so many ways
ReplyDeleteA wonderful villanelle filled with so much meaning. I can sense the deep love that you have for one another and how important it is. Yes indeed, sharing such love is the deepest prize, the best thing that can happen to anyone in this life! Beautiful sentiments, well expressed.
ReplyDeletesharing love has been treat poem!here greatest prize....it is the best and greatest. Great poem!
ReplyDeleteOne can see the effort and care you put into constructing this meaningful piece, affirming and promising to keep these vows. A joy to have read, thank you.
ReplyDeleteJames this is absolutely gorgeous. Steeped in emotion!
ReplyDeleteA great job with the form and the sentiment!
ReplyDeleteWell, you made it look easy, because this sure was easy to read. It moved right on along, heartwarming the whole way.
ReplyDeleteGracious love and gracious words. Nice.
ReplyDeleteOh yes how easy that looks and reads! It's a keeper to read to my poetry group here at the potters house....also very tender thoughts...thankyou
ReplyDeleteGlorious writing - I do love villanelles
ReplyDeleteso sad and tender...to the point
ReplyDelete"If death’s the end, then love is the surprise,
ReplyDeleteThat’s proven life is more than a cliché,
We’ll know this love until our last goodbyes."
- this particular verse speaks deeply,... a feel of infinity... a great song to the aging of love... smiles...
I agree this stanza particularly wonderful. Love is a surprise.
DeleteThird and fourth stanza really grab me but the whole is so smooth and not cheesy as are many strict form poems. This is romantic and a treasure. I hope it is truly for someone you love and not just written "because". It is a a very nice "gift" of words
ReplyDeleteThis is simply beautiful flows like a song of love from the heart.
ReplyDeleteLove the re-reading James ~ Oh, what a challenging form, well done ~
ReplyDeleteLove is the greatest prize :) Love this poem.
ReplyDeleteVery skillful use of the form...your writing is almost understated, and that steers it away from being over-sentimental. Very nice job with this.
ReplyDeleteWonderful rendition of an extremely difficult form - love it!
ReplyDelete"If death’s the end, then love is the surprise,
ReplyDeleteThat’s proven life is more than a cliché,
We’ll know this love until our last goodbyes."
Wow, what a lovely, heartfelt Villanelle. Especially loved the stanza above. When we wake up to that "surprise" each day, when it IS our lives and not "cliche," then we are truly blessed.
Lovely!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI so love "if death's the end, then love is the surprise." This is a beautiful testament to undying love. A wonderfully executed villanelle.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute to love very nicely woven with the villanelle. I have to disagree, though, that the villanelle is one of the most challenging forms. If you write good lines for the repeating refrains then the rest easily falls into place. For me, the sestina or anything that calls for a particular meter are much more challenging. :) Peace, Linda
ReplyDeleteBeautifully moving--well done.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully moving--well done.
ReplyDeleteI love villanelles, although I struggle with the form for myself. But you have set out a polished, fine example, with interesting rhymes (cliché, for instance). And rather romantic...
ReplyDeleteThis is so lovely and how lucky you and Wendy are to have a love that can outweigh all of life's pain. Cling to it!
ReplyDeleteThis poem reminds me of a little old man I once knew. I was in my 20's when I met him, and he in his 90's. I would visit him about once a week to chat and play chess, and help around the house. He used to say he hoped he outlived his wife, by one day.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Flawless meter, rhyme and lovely sentiment. I liked this line in particular: "If death’s the end, then love is the surprise". Thanks for linking up this up with dVerse today!
ReplyDeleteHow could I have missed the first time 'round. I must have been on one of my holidays(?) So happily you re-posted here. This is very well written - without the form it would have been a tender, love poem; but the lyricism employed here makes it more poignant and touching than one could find in free verse, I think. I love it. It sings to my heart.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to enduring love, and to have done it in villanelle form is exemplary! BRAVO
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and very well done.
ReplyDelete~Imelda
This is a wonderful Villanelle, so happy to read it for the first time. The theme of love being eternal is great.
ReplyDeleteHappy to read this again.. flawless Villanelle with a deeper meaning in a love that last.
Delete"For sharing love has been our greatest prize,"..This is the only truth of life and for this only even though the sky is gray one finds sunlight enough to walk. A wonderfully crafted villanelle.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely! I'm glad you shared it again; you give us a fabulous example of how to work this form.
ReplyDeleteYou make it look easy and as you said it is not. To be blessed with someone to share this world with in the way you describe is like touching the hand of God.
ReplyDeleteNice line: "If death’s the end, then love is the surprise," Sharing love is the greatest prize. No other reason to win a prize.
ReplyDeleteI'm the first to comment in 2018; smile. How clever to trot out this excellent piece every time the villanelle bell tolls. I can dig it. I, too, share such a love in my life. I also dig that you're a blues man.
ReplyDeleteThis was a beautiful poem James. It was a pleasure to read this wonderful bit of craft. What was even more wonderful was the love of which it spoke. I have no way of knowing, but I hope Wendy is still in your life!
ReplyDeleteLovely example of a villanelle, beautifully executed. You should write more of them :)
ReplyDeleteLovely graceful villanelle. I echo Jane - you ought to write more. Hope you read this to your love.
ReplyDeleteTender and heartfelt tribute to love. Excellent villanelle!
ReplyDeleteLovely work. The theme flowed very well in your Villanelle.
ReplyDelete~Imelda