A Broken Villanelle

 

 

There was nothing more that I could say.

I hung the phone, stayed out of sight–

I couldn’t tell him anyway.

 

So frightened that I might betray

An aching heart, like mine tonight

There was nothing more that I could say.

 

Would it have mattered though, today?

A flicker barely pierces night

I couldn’t tell him anyway.

 

When will this sorrow fade away?

Please God, make blind this damned hindsight

There was nothing more that I could say

 

      And even now, with no someday–

      No matter now of wrong or right–

      I still can’t say it anyway

 

                     Still, lips hold secrets eyes betray

                     And had I drowned in blue that night

                     There’d be nothing more that I would say

                     But he would have known it anyway.

49 Responses

Note that comments are displayed in reverse chronological order with topmost comments being freshest. Subscribe | Comment
  • Marvin Tejada says:
    May 14th, 2010 |

    lovely poem. teach me this villanelle.
    Thank you. I love villanelles, but am afraid I am not one to teach them as I am a novice myself. You can try here:http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5796 Thanks for stopping by:)

  • calliopespen says:
    December 17th, 2009 |

    Ah yes, indeed. We’ve all had those moments. It’s great to see you again, Sam:)

  • SamIam(not) says:
    December 16th, 2009 |

    “Still, lips hold secrets eyes betray”

    indeed

    this was really moving, and loved the flow of it.

  • calliopespen says:
    December 14th, 2009 |

    Squeeze away, LK. I’m honored that you asked!

  • L. K. Thayer says:
    December 12th, 2009 |

    I’d love to squeeze this at The Juice Bar w/a photo…yes? lisakthayer@yahoo.com
    let me know. Beautiful work. LK :)

  • calliopespen says:
    December 9th, 2009 |

    Thanks DL. I really appreciate your compliment on my maiden villanelle voyage;)

  • The Dark Lord says:
    December 2nd, 2009 |

    Wow.. One of the finest, I’ve come across, lately.. So poignant – this is beautiful art!

  • calliopespen says:
    November 29th, 2009 |

    Thank you, Colleen:)

  • Colleen says:
    November 27th, 2009 |

    Danielle I love the line “Please God, make blind this damned hindsight”. How often we have felt this way. Very clever phrasing and sentiment.

  • calliopespen says:
    November 22nd, 2009 |

    Thank you, Bliss, you are such a blessing. Yes, all is well. Thank you for checking in:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 22nd, 2009 |

    Thank you, Sara:)

  • Bliss Bait says:
    November 21st, 2009 |

    i’ve come a few times
    and read your words up and down
    sending you much light…

    I’m hoping all is well with You and Yours. Namaste. :)

  • Sara Fryd says:
    November 20th, 2009 |

    Exquisitely beautiful!

  • calliopespen says:
    November 20th, 2009 |

    Nice to meet you, Blue. Come back anytime, the door’s always open:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 20th, 2009 |

    Silindile, how nice to meet you. I took a peek at your souldose and can tell I’ll be spending some time with you there. You have a remarkable spirit. Blessings:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 20th, 2009 |

    Hi Shraddha, and thank you. I wanted to play around with some themes and practice with self-hosting before I build my business website:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 20th, 2009 |

    Hi Dame, nice to see you here! Thank you. I’m not very knowledgeable about poetry either–what matter is that you liked it and I appreciate that:)

  • BlueJayEye says:
    November 20th, 2009 |

    1st time on your blog, enjoyed my visit…

  • Silindile Ntuli says:
    November 19th, 2009 |

    This Is so honest and raw.. It has so much pain.

  • shraddha says:
    November 19th, 2009 |

    beautiful , touching poem!!

    lovely first…

    you did it!!! you are on the org!!!

    yay!!!

    what tirggered it?

  • Digital Dame says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    You took the plunge and got your own site! Congratulations!

    I’m not very knowledgable about poetry, but this was very poignant.

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Hi Ebb! So glad to see you again. Hope all is well on your end….will be by this week for some more of your inspiration:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    I need to figure out a way to circumvent that nonsense:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Hi Purple, So glad you found me. If it touched you I am am thrilled, and if you understood then I am ecstatic.

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Ah, Joseph, an approval from you is better than a gold star. Thank you my friend, for your approval and the hugs:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Thanks J. It was my first attempt and I broke form at the end. It irritated me at first that I didn’t do it perfectly…then I realized a broken form was the only form for this one. Glad you liked it:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Thank you, Della. For everything.

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Hi Az, thank you. Will have to write something to stitch you back up now;)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Hi Mark,
    I am guilty of overextension as well. In fact, one of my projects is going to be to revisit my other poetry and try to condense it a bit more. The more I write the more I realize that for me, less is more. Thank you:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Hey right back at ya, sweet Bliss. Thanks so much:)

  • calliopespen says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    Thank you, Kalliope:) Happy to have you visit.

  • ebbtide says:
    November 18th, 2009 |

    I love the progression… Oh! and I like the new look as well!

  • purple says:
    November 17th, 2009 |

    ooops, sorry I didn’t fill this out when I commented.

  • Anonymous says:
    November 17th, 2009 |

    Structurally impeccable, message incredible and touching, covers a range of emotions in me as the reader. I also enjoyed the mystery – you do not tell everything explicitly and yet, somehow we know …

  • Joseph Harker says:
    November 16th, 2009 |

    Excellent, both in form and content… rings with the strength of the emotions. Hugs and approvals!

  • Jaymie says:
    November 16th, 2009 |

    The struggle…this is wrenching, aching…beautiful form for delivery.

  • Della says:
    November 16th, 2009 |

    Beautiful. Calliope, he knew. He always knew.

  • azfree says:
    November 15th, 2009 |

    Awesome, awesome work on this. Really tore me inside out.

  • Mark William Jackson says:
    November 15th, 2009 |

    Beautiful flow, I vacillate between form and free verse, sometimes I try to overextend myself and stretch a one line idea into a classical form and I end up killing the idea, but you have taken some great lines and a powerful emotive foundation and moulded them into one of my favourite forms, well done.

  • Bliss says:
    November 15th, 2009 |

    HEYYYYYY!!! It’s wonderful here in Your new room. Congrats!!!

    This poem is incredible. I’ve read it through three times and just feel sad, sad, sad. Hopeless. And I see the comments which elude to a heartbreaking event in Your life. Well…I thank You for sharing Your raw heart and personal journey in such a lovely way. Seriously. Namaste. :)

  • Kalliope says:
    November 15th, 2009 |

    Beautiful poem…..

  • calliopespen says:
    November 15th, 2009 |

    Yes, it sure can be that, LK. In many ways, in many different shades of love.

  • L. K. Thayer says:
    November 15th, 2009 |

    heartbreaking and brutal, as love can be…

  • calliopespen says:
    November 14th, 2009 |

    Thanks Darc. This one took a while to write. Still not sure I have it right, but it felt good to get it out:)

  • DarcKnyt says:
    November 14th, 2009 |

    That’s almost chilling in its clarity and crisp longing, Danielle. Brilliant work. As if you did any other sort.

  • calliopespen says:
    November 14th, 2009 |

    You are so kind, thank you, Alisson. It’s nice to “meet” you, and your hugs from Brazil:)

  • Álisson da Hora says:
    November 14th, 2009 |

    There are not words what I can use to express my emotion with your poem. It’s very beautiful and fantastic.

    hugs from Brazil!

  • calliopespen says:
    November 14th, 2009 |

    Thanks Falc:)
    I’m glad you like it. Bear with me–you might see the same post several times in your reader as I play around with some plugins and stuff:)

  • DarcsFalcon says:
    November 14th, 2009 |

    *hugs* This requires hugs and tissue. I’m so sorry.

    But in a crude change of subject, the blog looks awesome. :) I love the pulldown shade.

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