Image by Tomie De Paola
DECEMBER 2012: A TERZANELLE
On a first stanza by Christopher Wiseman
By Lewis Turco
The Christmas poet tried a villanelle,
But, blocked, he couldn't do it, couldn't find
Words less useless than a faint “Noël.”
His Christmas correspondent didn’t mind
Because he felt that he could help a bit
But, blocked, he couldn't do it, couldn't find
The proper rhyming word that he could fit
Into the rhyme scheme of a villanelle −
Still, he felt that he could help a bit
If he composed a simple terzanelle,
For it was much the same form, after all.
Into the rhyme scheme of a villanelle
His Christmas correspondent made that call
And presto! There it was: an Xmas carol
In very much the same form, after all!
After all the angst and folderol
The correspondent tried a terzanelle
And presto! There it was: an Xmas carol,
Words more useful than a faint “Noël.”
Image © Tomie De Paola 2013;
Poem © Lewis Turco 2013.
