If they come, you must build
Playing with the Villanelle
If they come, you must build
A person is not a weed
Humanity is your guild
~.~
Why should blood be spilled?
Time, it is to feed
If they come, you must build
~.~
The burned, the wheeled, the skilled
The wall is a ruthless breed
Humanity is your guild
~.~
Crowns are inkless and quilled
Power is not a creed
If they come, you must build
~.~
Metal has been tilled
It’s not too late to seed
Humanity is your guild
~.~
Greatness has not been killed
Your history is your deed
If they come, you must build
Humanity is your guild
About the Creator
Matthew Daniels
Merry meet!
I'm here to explore the natures of stories and the people who tell them.
My latest book is Interstitches: Worlds Sewn Together. Check it out: https://www.engenbooks.com/product-page/interstitches-worlds-sewn-together
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Very well written. Keep up the good work!
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Easy to read and follow
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The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (11)
Nice one, Matthew. Congrats on your top story!
This is thought provoking. Loved it! Especially this line 'Crowns are inkless and quilled' Congratulations on top story!!🎉
So many powerful and thought-provoking lines! Brilliant villanelle!
You successfully played with the villanelle alright. This reminded me of several things, but mostly felt like an invitation to interact and possibly collaborate with whoever 'they' are. Well done and congrats!!!
Matthew this was incredibly powerful with the repetitive language and though provoking themes. Great work and congrats on Top Story!
"A person is not a weed Humanity is your guild" Wonderful poem! I like the way you played with the language in your poem!
Clever, leaving this open to interpretation. Let the reader guess or decide who ‘they’ are. Congratulations
1. This line is so eloquent and clever: "Crowns are inkless and quilled" 2. I recognize the inversion of "if you build it, he will come" from Field of Dreams, but I'm now pondering—Is "they" a reference to "humanity," and therefore this poem speaks to the ways in which we are all somewhat spiritually indebted to one another, or is "they" a common enemy (the powers that be... or, you know, aliens!!) and the poem is a gentle rally cry? Or something else entirely? Would love to know your intent, if you're willing to share. Really loved the way you played with layered language and made me think.
This is wonderful Villanelle poem 👌🏽
Back to say...well done and congrats on Top Story! That was bloody fast, too! haha! Well done!
Oooh, love this! Well done on a sterling entry for the challenge. Very thought-provoking!