Writing a villanelle

1. Creative Writing II Mrs. McLeod Writing a villanelle

2. What is a villanelle? • Originally French • Evolved from songs • Nineteen line poem with six stanzas • First five stanzas are tercets, rhyme scheme ABA • Last is a quatrain, ABBA

3. The Wakingby Theodore RoetkeI wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.I learn by going where I have to go.We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

4. Vilanelle TemplateA1: first repeating lineB: an open line—write what you wishA2: second repeating lineA: an open line—write what you wishB: an open line—write what you wishA1: Repeat line A1 unchangedA: an open line—write what you wishB: an open line—write what you wishA2: Repeat line A2 unchangedA: an open line—write what you wishB: an open line—write what you wishA1: repeat line A1 unchangedA: an open line—write what you wishB: an open line—write what you wishA2: Repeat line A2 unchangedA: an open line—write what you wishB: an open line—write what you wishA1: Repeat line A1 unchangedA2: Repeat line A2 unchanged

5. Villanelles by Eighth Grade StudentsStay UpRaul G.Don’t let them keep you down.Don’t give in to the struggle.Watch them or they’ll let you down.Let no one take your crown.Keep them down, ’til their blood makes a puddle.Don’t let them keep you down.These are all your people; your townloyal to you, oh so humble.Watch them or they’ll let you down.Without a care they make you frown.I see potential, yet they all stumble.Don’t let them keep you down.I see talent that can astoundbut under pressure, dreams crumble.Watch them or they’ll let you down.You hear the roaring of the crowd.Wipe the blood off your knuckle.Don’t let them keep you down.Watch them or they’ll let you down.

6. VillanelleJacky L.In a dream I see many things,a big purple crocodile.I lay my head on a pillow in the evenings.I love the joy it brings,an orange monkey with a smile.In a dream I see many things.Waking up would be death-defying.I see a squirrel that’s very hostile.I lay my head on a pillow in the evenings.I watch a green lady cross the Nile.In a dream I see many things.An old man who’s very old-style.I lay my head on a pillow in the evenings.A cool-looking hippo by the name of Kyle.In a dream I see many things.I lay my head on a pillow in the evenings.

7. Write your own villanelle! • Choose two lines you wish to repeat • Fill in the blanks