The drawbridge to the castle drops
around the chargers mouth – that froth
when nothing can the battle stop.
The knights preparing, heads to chop
cause foes are foes in tattered clothes
when drawbridge to the castle drops
The beggars gather rotting crops
we call it stealth – diluted broth
as nothing can our battle stop
The empty eyes of hostile cops
see nothing of our conscious rot
as drawbridge to the castle drops
Attack is just defense we hope
but still our hearts are stiff with frost.
Now nothing can this battle stop.
But in the end we learn to cope
when prince and courtesan betroth.
The drawbridge to the castle drops
when something can the battle stop.
Le massacre de Vassy by Georges Mathieu
Linked to Real Toads Open Link Monday
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October 13, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I really like “hearts are stiff with frost.” Excellent.
Bjorn, Remembering battles of yesteryear and the suffereing they caused. — Susan
Absolutely phenomenal. A remarkable penning. The refrains in particular were stunning. Loved it.
So many excellent turns of phrase here, like “our conscious rot.” Sadly, they pass quickly, like time itself, and gallop through this meditation on war and peace and (in)humanity and mortality and so many other things. Brilliant, Björn.
Your villanelle skills really shine in this one Bjorn–I feel that jadedness and desperation that only the political process can bring here–we are fighting so many wars, so many unstoppable battles that are unclear–a forced offense or last defense? as they say in football–the best offense is a good defense–and the form echoes that sense of weariness. Thanks for your comment at my place about Ferdinand the bull–many years since I saw that–many memories.
Well, you know how I love a villanelle. What strikes me most about this one is the classic feel, with the references to drawbridges and castles and how you made it relevant to our times, especially in stanza four. Great progression from knights to beggars to cops.. and ultimately ourselves.
What a fantastic villanelle.
The villanelle is a very fine poetry form and this is absolutely good!!
This is brilliant…
And for some reason, I keep on reading it in the voice of Yoda with A Game of Thrones sound-effects on the background.
You captured both the tension of battle and the major effect that love has on people. Well done.
This was a powerful piece. We just keep destroying each other… until we don’t.
This evokes great imagery and the lines are really punchy, adding to the feel of an ongoing battle.
You masterfully paint the entire scene, including all the characters and the implements of their stations. Wonderful imagery.
We moderns may fantasize medieval times but the reality wasn’t pretty…betroth is a beautiful word, full of promise and hope.
A classic villanelle Bjorn! Great rhyming! The repetitions keep the verse alive all the way!
Hank
A particularly complex villanelle (with oh, so subtly evolving repetition) – the form well suited to the medieval theme (the name villanelle, I gather, deriving from the Medieval Latin villanus – acccording to Wiki). “The beggars gather rotting crops”: a haunting expression of desperation. Great poem!