Rust and Diamonds

What's behind the Villanelle

Here's some interesting information about the Villanelle form of poetry.

First Villanelle

My first Villanelle

Villanelle for victims of the new recession (Requiem for a shuttered school)

Ghosts do visit this sunwashed slope

Unfettered free, in shapes of child

Singing lost shanties of rust, diamonds and hope.

As if such dreams could help me cope

Their dresses frilled and eyes so mild

Ghosts do visit this sunwashed slope.

What sight provokes the eye to mope?

Time has turned the songs to wild.

Singing lost shanties of rust, diamonds and hope.

Strangled the shuttered structures grope

Evermore blocked to human child

Ghosts do visit this sunwashed slope.

An accident, perhaps, or twisted rope

Shattered green glass when master riled

Singing lost shanties of rust, diamonds and hope.

Green broke shards 'neath sun's woozy dope

Diamonds amid resting rust of guile

Ghosts do visit this sunwashed slope

Singing lost shanties of rust, diamonds and hope.

~Terry Varner Benge (26 July 2012)