Though that dark night invites us all to pray, its coming is no time for mortal fear. Be glad you will escape eternal day! If day was bright, then we should hymn its ray, but could you face it endlessly lived here, with no dark night inviting us to pray? Life's glories are a transient bouquet and life that was not fleeting would be drear. Be glad you will escape eternal day. The ancient wheel revolves, I've heard men say - and shall it be your treadmill, your whole sphere, though that dark night invites us all to pray? Earth moulds us as a sculptor moulds his clay yet does not cast, thinks permanence severe. Be glad you will escape eternal day. The best is this: sound sleep beyond the fray and knowledge of a loved one very near - though that dark night invites us all to pray, be glad you will escape eternal day! .................................................................Written for Semaphore's (Samuel Peralta's) prompt at dVerse Poets' ~ Pub asking that we attempt the Villanelle form, and giving as his model the world's best (probably) and best known (certainly) example, Dylan Thomas's Do not go gentle (read it here)
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Friday, 26 October 2012
Replying to Dylan Thomas
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21 comments:
nice man....luckily we have both night and day, like the seasons ever changing...giving us relief from the other....i rather enjoy the night..very nice to form sir...
Nicely done. A thoughtful work. I do like the line "Life's glories are a transient bouquet".
though that dark night invites us all to pray,be glad you will escape eternal day!
The last two lines stamped the end all. It's like telling us to be aware of what's coming! Nicely Dave!
Hank
This is excellent! Especially like:
"The best is this: sound sleep beyond the fray
and knowledge of a loved one very near -"
That is the best!! Nicely penned!
Quite wonderful! More than quite wonderful - a really amazing response - especially for those of us who feel prey of that dark night. k.
PS _ hope you are right.
k.
Thought-provoking, Dave. I see your point. Eternal Day would definitely be hard to endure!!
(You seem to write villanelles very naturally! Perhaps it is YOUR form!!)
Dave - I hesitate to put a link in a comment - but you have a sense of humor so may like this. It's an old illustrated villanelle:
http://manicddaily.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/contrastvillanellesvillain-elle-with-watercolors-and-elephants/
what a wonderful idea to write a reply to dylan thomas wonderful villanelle..and you did an awesome job dave..
Very lovely Dave. Great villanelle.
The last stanza is very poignant and a good way to say goodbye.
Good to use the well known version of the form to build your own and give its a personal spin
As a fervent Dylan fan I can say that I think you have made a very good stab at this Dave.
"Life's glories are a transient bouquet"
Great lines Dave. Loved the poem.
This is an excellent transposition (and with the eyes of age I say evolution,) of Thomas' refrain. I think there comes a time when the glare of day is like an endless desert journey, and arrival at the cool evening oasis most welcome. Lovely, proficient work with the form, David.
Beautifully realized and a thoughtful response. I agree, I would rather go gently and with grace.
A splendid answer to the great Dylan Thomas's "gentle" lines, absolutely intense and delightful in its rhythm. It almost manages to convince the less willing among us to welcome the night..
So do not rage so against the dying of the light, for eternal light, like a constant burning sun would be hellish and no cooling, restful night would be tortuous. The use of repetition with each changing stanza here brings more depth of meaning, and more acceptance of the transient quality of life. Beautiful, and meaningful! I always look forward to reading your work. Thank you so much for your comments on mine.
Ahh, poet,
our thoughts move along parallel lines this witching season
sorry I have been so busy, but I post something like a ghost story on my blog today called Blue Baby that I thought you might enjoy
Thank you for your presence in our lives...
The PeSla
Very thought provoking, Dave. This is great!
You must think my praise cheap. I spread it around here with suspect regularity indeed, but your work regularly wrestles with the Big questions
to my delight and profit. I can stick to my idiosyncratic specialties, content that you succeed where I would but spend myself. Then I swoop in and read it here. You GOOD, Bro-
Weekend Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Weekend Aloha from Honolulu
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Hi, all!
Alas, I can't get round just now, but will try to catch up with you all later.
Much appreciate all your very kind and encouraging comments.
Brian
Thanks for - me too, I'm a night bird.
(or used to be!)
J Cosmo
Welcome. Good to have you visiting. And thanks for the comment.
Hank
Yes, not to fear it, really. We might like a much longer life, but not for ever.
Ginny
Good to hear your thoughts. Thanks for them.
manicddaily
Thanks for the kind words - including the good wishes. Yes, for now I am. P.S. Interesting link. Thanks again.
Mary
Thanks for these thoughts. No, actually I find Villanelles very difficult. I don't often stray into such territory. But I did enjoy writing this. Maybe I should give them a whirl now and again.
Claudia
Much thanks for these generous words. Very encouraging.
Cressida de Nova
Thank you. Good to know you think this - and really good to have you visiting.
John
Hi, welcome and many thanks for your comment.
The Weaver of Grass
I take this as a great compliment. I, too, am a Thomas fan. Got "into him" (as they say) at college. The BBC broadcast of Under Milk Wood was my "in".
Rachna
Thank you for saying so. really appreciated.
hedgewitch
Yes, I can agree with all that. I love the evening as I love the autumn. There was always something about them, even when I was small.
Anna
Yes, I think so - in fact, I'm sure.
Tommaso
The time comes, I'm sure. A time for everything, as Eliot says.
Beachanny
Thank you so much for this much valued comment. Delightful and generous.
ThePeSla
Much thanks and a warm welcome to you. Loved the read on your blog.
Linda
Good to have your comment. Thank you.
Cloudia
The trick is to turn the trivial question and make it sound like a big'un! Thanks for your great comment.
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