Villanelle Competition Entry: Seventeen

The Villainous Villanelle

I must not bite my nails tonight
(though this Gallic form is galling)
I steel myself to stand upright

And tread my meter nice and tight
unlike a free verse sprawling
I must not bite my nails tonight

I slip and slide and dream of flight
from prosody’s enthralling
I steel myself to stand upright

And carve this form like anthracite
though end rhyme is appalling
I must not bite my nails tonight

Or else I might give up the fight
to make my stanzas diamond bright
I steel myself to stand upright

Although it’s clear I’m none-too-bright
at Francophonic bawling
I must not bite my nails tonight
I steel myself to stand upright

Liana Joy Christensen