Hurrah! It's Tuesday, & time for the weekly Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers blog. Tweet at #SOL14 Thanks Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy!Since I had the pleasure of being in Round One of the March Madness Poetry Challenge, I've been following along, round by round, just as I've been watching the basketball NCAA games. I hope your team went far, maybe even to the championship game!
But back to poetry. I'm Facebook friends with a few of the poets, and one of them, B.j. Lee, just lost in the final four, so sad. However, her most recent poem was a villanelle, and wonderful. I was impressed and researched this form. You can find B.j.'s and her competitor's poems here, and then wonderfully, she wrote a post a few days ago, a 'how-to'. You can find that on her blog, here!
So, I worked to write one
during these past couple of days. I know it isn’t perfect, has gone through
numerous iterations, but I’m pleased thus far, and will keep messing with it.
Talking To An Adolescent Child
Do not stop
growing, blossom of a child,
petals
spreading to gather morning dew.
Choose merry
places; dance among the wild.
Happy in your
life? That’s when I’m beguiled.
In flush of
flowering, listen to the few.
Do not stop
growing, blossom of a child.
Those living
the longer lives, some reviled
actions
hasty-made. Wise thinking then do.
Choose merry
places; dance among the wild.
Blossoms
flourish whether murky or mild.
Take shelter
needed, knowing you’ll pull through.
Do not stop
growing, blossom of a child.
Seeing petals
both soft and strong, I smiled,
Good memories,
ready for your debut.
Choose merry
places; dance among the wild.
Take pride in the gifts your choices compiled
for means of living only what
is true.
Do not stop
growing, blossom of a child.
Choose merry
places; dance among the wild.
Linda
Baie © All Rights Reserved
And, do remember the Progressive Poem hosted by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem! The list and links are on the sidebar.
Wow Linda! I really enjoyed that poem. It seems like it would be so complicated to write, I'm impressed!! Thank you for sharing this form!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle, it is complicated, but also fun to give it a try.
DeleteI love this! I've never written a villanelle myself, but I had a seventh grader try one this year, and he did a great job! These forms are so fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruth, terrific to hear about your student, too. The form isn't easy.
DeleteI like this! The villanelle has a sound of its own! Well done! I voted for B.J.Lee's poem. I wish it had won.
ReplyDeleteThanks Freeda. Now I'm hooked, will need to try another!
DeleteLove this! Such a good message, beautiful metaphor and spring imagery
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane-very interesting to craft. B.j.'s post helped tremendously!
DeleteWow! That is one complicated form. You probably can't see, but I am giving you a standing ovation for your poem. Incredible and so full of meaning. You do love to jump into a challenge. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elsie. Yes, I do like to try new things, & as I said above, thank goodness I had others to study.
DeleteI feel the caring and warmth of a loving parent/grandparent watching a growing child who begins to make their own decisions. Love the concept of the "blossom of a child." Dance and be wild but choose wisely. I would love to give this poem to my granddaughters one day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tam. I love that you'd like to give this to your granddaughters. They, and my grandson, are who I had in mind when I wrote.
DeleteThat was beautiful, Linda! I give so much credit to you for trying, very scary for me! I think you captured that time period well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michele. I appreciate your support!
DeleteLinda - Nice! great rhyme choices! Lovely metaphor! I particularly liked your 2 repeated lines - well thought out! and especially " blossom of a child" and "dance among the wild" ! I'm so glad my villanelle was an inspiration to you! I'll share on FB if you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteThank you! So happy you like it, B.j. There are a few awkward lines which I'll work on, but I did like the repeating ones, too!
DeleteGreat job! Love the compassion and respect and the contrast of youth and maturity.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karyn, I like your response!
DeleteWow. Not knowing much about poetry writing, I can respond as a reader - it sounds beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Terje, it is nice to hear that from you!
DeleteHey, Linda! I love your Villanelle!
ReplyDeleteI thought I had written one once, and did a search. I found it here: http://mainelywrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/vivid-memory-villanelle.html. I posted it right after I SOLC, April 13, 2011 - you were my only commenter that day!
We keep connecting in ways and ways, don't we, Donna. I'll visit this villanelle. Now that you've told me, I sort of remember that you tried out all different kinds of structures, didn't you? Thanks for researching and telling me.
DeleteIt was also just fascinating that it was almost 3 years to the day. Love the swirly web of connections.
DeleteI love the line "Happy in your life? That’s when I’m beguiled." This is so true!! Often, I find myself thinking this is all that matters to me - are they happy? I also love "Take pride in the gifts your choices compiled" - love thinking that our choices bring gifts. This is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maureen. I tried to imagine all the feelings a parent has when watching their children grow up, little ones and older. Happy you like those lines!
DeleteLinda your poem was lovely! Such imagery and beautiful phrases
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beverley, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteVery loving sentiment, Linda. Nicely done! "Seeing petals both soft and strong, I smiled" -- I know what you mean :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tabatha. So nice you 'connected'!
DeleteBeautiful work. Perfect subject too. When they are so young our hopes and dreams are so present. I love your repeating lines how they work together throughout and at the end. This part hit me most. Probably because it applies so much to my kids now.
ReplyDelete"Happy in your life? That’s when I’m beguiled.
In flush of flowering, listen to the few.
Do not stop growing, blossom of a child.:
Thanks Julieanne. There are parts that are the same at every age, and then some differ when children are grown, at least in my experience. What I love most in my sharing is that you who are parents have connected through your own lives. Special to me!
DeleteThis is beautiful, Linda! I especially love the last stanza and the idea of "living only what is true." Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Catherine. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteI am always a bit envious of people who write poetry. I keep thinking there is a special secret to it. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteKeeping at it, Alyson, that's the secret. Thank you!
DeleteI must try this form! This is lovely, Linda. Love these word: beguile, flourish.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jone. I hope you do write one. B.j.'s post was helpful, too.
DeleteMust explore this form soon. For now, I'll focus on the words I loved . . . "Do not stop growing." and "Choose merry places." Such wisdom!
DeleteThanks Ramona.
DeleteDon't you love how trying to write a poem to a form can consume you? I love your refrain and the tune of blossom of a child. I, too, was taken by BJ's villanelle. My students had a rich experience voting in the competition.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right, I was determined to try this, especially after B.j.'s writing her beautiful one and then the 'how-to'. Thanks Margaret. One more vote today I guess!
DeleteWow Linda. I am beguiled by the beauty and finesse of this poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheriee. I don't know how you found this from so long ago, but I appreciate your compliment.
Delete