Trapped at the end of the earth
the hours roll on relentless
time eased by fortune of birth.
Each day a measure of my worth
a challenge to my temper
trapped at the end of the earth.
Hard work to control my girth
not succumb to food and leisure
time eased by fortune of birth.
An anxious period, abandoned by mirth
tension cloaks my daily labors
trapped at the end of the earth.
Of humanity there is a dearth
family gatherings become virtual
time eased by fortune of birth.
In solitude learned a thing or two
pondering pleasures I could eschew
trapped at the end of the earth
time eased by fortune of birth.
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The villanelle is a very old form of poetry that came from France and has lots of rules. It is made up of 19 lines; five stanzas of three lines (tercet) each and a final stanza of four lines (quatrain). As you can see from the rhyme scheme; ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA, this type of poem only has two rhyming sounds. Plus, there is a lot of repetition throughout the villanelle. Line one will be repeated in lines six, 12 and 18; and line three will be repeated in lines nine, 15 and 19.
