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Villanelle of His Lady’s Treasures

I took her dainty eyes, as well
  As silken tendrils of her hair:
And so I made a Villanelle!  
 
I took her voice, a silver bell,
  As clear as song, as soft as prayer;
I took her dainty eyes as well.  
 
It may be, said I, who can tell,
  These things shall be my less despair?
And so I made a Villanelle!  
 
I took her whiteness virginal
  And from her cheek two roses rare:
I took her dainty eyes as well.  
 
I said: “It may be possible
  Her image from my heart to tear!”
And so I made a Villanelle.  
 
I stole her laugh, most musical:
  I wrought it in with artful care;
I took her dainty eyes as well;
And so I made a Villanelle.  

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Comments

1 - 8 of 8

  • September 13
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    my general comments on what i think

    From guest misha (contact)
    i did not find any analysis on this poem.i think it is a pity that such a beautiful poem is left out like this


    • I-Like-Rhymes Moderators member
      September 14
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      For Guest misha

      The poem has not been left out -- It is here.
      We do not automatically write an analysis because, in the end, an analysis is merely an opinion of what the poem is about unless the poet does his/her own analysis.
      We would be happy to see your own analysis in the comments section if you wish to submit it.
      Jim
      Oldpoetry Research Team

  • pozo
    February 8, 2005
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    I've never come across this poem before, it was so beautiful and well written as well as passionate.
    Thanks op for providing me with a new experience,
    Pozo


  • AndrewHide
    February 5, 2005
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    A villanelle Is a form which became very popular in the 1890s and was used widely and effectively by Dowson (like this one) and Wilde oldpoetry.com/authors/Oscar%20Wilde, fifty years later it became in vogue again with
    Dylan Thomas, oldpoetry.com/authors/Dylan%20Thomas
    William Empson oldpoetry.com/authors/William%20Empson
    and W H Auden. oldpoetry.com/authors/Wystan%20Hugh%20Auden

    The villanelle is a form with usually six stanzas and often written in iambic pentameter or tetrameter and rhymes A1,bA,2 a,b,A1 a,b,A2 a,b,A1 a,b,A2 a,b,A1,A2

    Andrew
    oldpoetry Staff
    Edited on Feb 05, 7:44 because ''.

  • vbgard
    February 5, 2005
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    lovely villanelle. so old and romantic

  • ceXee
    February 5, 2005
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    this is really beautiful! i would also like to know what villanelle is. but still a great poem!

  • LadyUnique
    February 5, 2005
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    this is beautiful to read! i am so glad i stopped by. if only i could write with such flair. even so i consider myself fortunate to be able to read it.
    a lovely start to my day!

  • Lady anairO
    February 5, 2005
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    What is a vinalelle? I would really like to know, cus this is great and i would like to understand it fully!
    I loved the description of things u made like this one (i loved taht verse):
    I took her whiteness virginal
    And from her cheek two roses rare:
    I took her dainty eyes as well.

    You have /some/ gift!

    Your wort fear,
    Lady anairO

  • AndrewHide
    February 4, 2005
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    I've never read this piece before, I've always liked the villanelle (when wrote well) It is a form which can soon fall apart under the careless pen. But this poem is exceptional, not only is the poem well formed with a wonferful flow, Dowson very cleverly utalises the punctuation to full effect here.
    The subject is very good, and maybe a tad humourous, to take the parts most cherished, in a woman and weave them into a poem, this poem.

    Andrew

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