Seated fat clown by Pablo Picasso
Behind the mask he hid his fears
with painted mouth in constant smile
as laughter moved him into tears
At played stupidity we cheered
which gave a bitter taste of bile
behind the mask he hid his fears
He wished to find more thoughtful peers
who wouldn’t let him be defiled
as laughter moved him into tears
And every time his face is smeared
to be in vibrant cheery style
behind the mask he hid his fears
He was engaged in bad affairs
and victimized by chide revile
as laughter moved him into tears
And when he left us for the stars
his coffin carried down the aisle
behind the mask he hid his fears
as laughter moved him into tears
This week in Trifecta I move through form poetry by offering a Villanelle. The word of the week is
mask
a : a protective covering for the face
b : gas mask
c : a device covering the mouth and nose to facilitate inhalation
d : a comparable device to prevent exhalation of infective material
e : a cosmetic preparation for the skin of the face that produces a tightening effect as it dries
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Ah! That is a really good character-sketch. The villanelle flows smoothly and the refrains are lovely.
I love Villanelles… one of my favorite forms.
Mine too. The pattern of refrains is particularly interesting to work on.
I love the vilanelle – your speaks well of the mask
Thank you 🙂 the mask of the clown is such a sad piece… … I can see the crying clown
Really love this – I think the form is quite difficult, but you handle it with great finesse
the Villanellle is easy and hard at the same time… choose to go lightly this time… and yes it’s a wonderful form
I was checking out the Trifecta challenge and clicked on your poetry. Wow. I read this poem twice to really appreciate what you did with the lines and the verses. Impressive:~) I wish I had a drop of your talent with poetry. While I occasionally dabble in it, there’s no way it’s at this level.
Ah – iambs come easily to me … My free verse is quite weird 😉
Great villanelle, Björn!
Thank you 😉
I’m not familiar with villanelle. As always, I’m impressed with your poetic skill!
you should take a look at “do not go gently…” by Dylan Thomas… an amazing piece.. Structured poetry might look binding to you, but in reality it’s gives you room to focus on content… and to some extent let the rhymes drive the story.
When I am ever in need of amazement, I just take a quick jaunt to Sweden. I have never heard of a Villanelle. I liked it.
Villanelle is one of many poetry styles coming from french poetry.. also include triolet, rondeau .. and many other.
I am a sucker for formal verse, and this is lovely, Björn. Great characterization of the clown, too.
Also took me back to dylan thomas and silvia plath… so lovely.
Another impressive piece of poetry, Bjorn. Great take on the word. I’m familiar with the famous Dylan Thomas poem. I have to admit I didn’t know it was called a villanelle. Now I do. I like what you say about staying within the stricture of the form to concentrate on content. Makes me want to give it a try.
That’s not just some good writing in verse: it is emotional. And it’s teaching most of us something about the villanelle. Nice write!
Beautiful. I also wrote of someone hiding behind a mask, but not a poem, and a different tone.
I still don’t like clowns but…this was bittersweet anyway.
Another form on display, brilliantly.
your graphics are always a wonderful addition to the poem
This is very well done. I like that I learn something reading your posts.
Lovely, Bjorn! I love how the structure of the poem contributes to the overall mood and the sense that the emotion is a long-term one, not a fleeting aggravation. The villanelle is a new form for me (it’s been eons since I studied poetry in school) but I love it.
I work my way through various forms… and some of the french ones are really great to work with…. sometimes it feels like walking in the footsteps of the great poets…
I’ve always been a sucker for sonnets (a la Shakespeare). I love iambic pentameter – I love finding a way to be creative with such a strict structure. It’s the same with Trifecta/Trifextra, actually: give me a box, and let me figure out how to make it beautiful inside.
I was lazy this week and went with tetrameter… I promise I do a sonnet next week 🙂
Touching poem…how often we forget that everyone experiences pain and sorrow…even when a mask is worn to hide the pain.
I absolutely love the cadence to this piece. I’m not sure you’ve got the third definition though. Thanks for linking up!
I like the form and the refrain: as laughter moved him into tears
The charade we play to keep up a good appearance ~ Happy weekend ~
I also love villanelles–(in fact I wrote one very similar to this about this time last year, only with a veil)and this is a lovely one–your grasp of the mask and its purpose comes through really well, and the form suits the subject perfectly, with its singsong both covering and creating its own image.
nice. i often dislike the repetition of the villanelle, to tell the truth, but yours is purposeful and strong in its narrative, and the cadence really suits the story. well done!
Well done Bjorn. I was trying to think of a good form for this challenge – a Villanelle is perfect !!! I want to redo mine now haha. next time.
Villanelle’s are often both poignant and reflective – everything this poem is!
I like that last verse a lot as well as the irony of the whole.
Bjorn, very glad you ‘unmasked’ this villanelle for the prompt – it deserves to be seen again. Emotional and so well crafted. Thank you for sharing ~
Wow! A villanelle that flows, and punches at the same time.