Confession – A Villanelle
Several months ago (or maybe longer) the Form for All lesson at dVerse Poets Pub was on the villanelle form. At the time is seemed too hard and so I didn’t try writing one. But my poetry knowledge and skill has come a long way since then. I’ve written triolets and pantoums, other challenging forms that are characterized by repetitive patterns.
Last week I posted my pantoum Psalm for My Savior at Broken Believers blog, and Bryan Lowe added a link to the Wikipedia article on pantoums. I clicked the link to read the article, and from there I clicked a link to an article on villanelles. As I read about this intriguing form, I decided I wanted to try it. I wrote my first one, Wedding Bells, for last Saturday in celebration of my nephew’s wedding. This poem is my second attempt on a topic that has been on my mind lately.
I decided to offer this poem for Open Link Night at dVerse Poets Pub. If you haven’t been to dVerse before, I urge you to check out all the wonderful poetry offered there.
Confession
Light shines in the darkness
Faintly I see His light
My need I will confess
Toward the light I press
Keeping hope in my sight
Light shines in the darkness
Despair my soul’s distress
Entangled in the night
My need I will confess
His grace I will profess
Giving me strength to fight
Light shines in the darkness
I feel anguish oppress
Crushing with all its might
My need I will confess
Feeling His love’s caress
Compassion burning bright
Light shines in the darkness
My need I will confess
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Linda, there is really something beautiful and special as you do these forms to something that He has laid on your heart! I think this is another good one fro Broken Believers! 🙂 God bless you as you keep allowing Him to use your pen! 🙂
Deb, I thought about posting this at Broken Believers, too! I think I will do that in a few days. Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂 Peace, Linda
smiles…nice villanelle linda…and thankful that his light keeps shining for us..
Linda, your villanelle is your own. It certainly follows the rhyme scheme and repetition and is closely written in 6 syllable lines..some iambic, some not. The usual call is for iambic pentameter but as I never fail to say (and Sam, believes it as well) – one must take the form and bend it to our own voice and rhythms which you have done well here. It expresses your faith well in its repetitions – much like a chant or an om.
Gay, Thanks. I must confess that I can’t really wrap my mind around what constitutes “iambic pentameter.” I’ve read definitions but somehow it just doesn’t stick. My real preference is for free form poetry, but I do enjoy the repetitive nature of some of the forms, such as this one, the pantoum, and the triolet. I appreciate the feedback from a pro. Peace, Linda
i will let the form masters critique your form…i have never written one, so…smiles…i like the overcoming through out your poem…and that it is achieved through humility which is what confession is all about…
Brian, This poem is really quite autobiographical and the subject close to my heart. Humility truly is the key to escaping the darkness of pride that can engulf us if we are not vigilant. Peace, Linda
“Feeling His love’s caress
Compassion burning bright
Light shines in the darkness
My need I will confess”
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous, in mercy and truth”(Psalm 86:15)
So much truth in four short lines.
Thanks your Bro. Richard:)
Richard, What a perfect Psalm verse to add to the mix! Thanks for sharing that. Peace, Linda