Crossland (Villanelle)

by Michael D Nalley   Dec 17, 2016


A poor man with no name, on a horse, with no fame
set out to cross the land.
His father did the same, to be what he became.

The keeper of the key, the keeper of the flame
set out to take a stand.
A poor man with no name, on a horse, with no fame.

All his fathers were the same as they staked their claim,
like slaves they wore a brand.
His father did the same, to be what he became.

Sometimes he is so wild, other times he is tame.
Some came to understand
A poor man with no name, on a horse, with no fame

So now he can proclaim, with little or no shame,
a line drawn in the sand.
His father did the same, to be what he became.

All hardships overcame.
Nothing by God unplanned.
A poor man with no name, on a horse, with no fame.
His father did the same, to be what he became.

*Villanelle

a nineteen-line poem with two rhymes throughout, consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with the first and third lines of the opening tercet recurring alternately at the end of the other tercets and with both repeated at the close of the concluding quatrain.

4


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Latest Comments

  • 6 years ago

    by Khadz

    What a joyful read dear loved it

  • 7 years ago

    by Brenda

    Michael, wow what an amazing write! I have never seen this style of poetry, it's very unique. Well done Sir-

  • 7 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    Michael,

    These are not easy and this really is a joy to read.

    All the best,

    Ben

  • 7 years ago

    by Something Diabolical

    Really enjoyed reading this. Simple yet tells a good story.
    It's really hard to do something like this and keep on track and not lose flow. (I've tried)

    You sir, have done this perfectly.

  • 7 years ago

    by Everlasting

    It sounds musically.

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