The Samurai (a villanelle)

(for villanelle definition, see bottom of page)


Poise dwells within the still Samurai
sword glinting and flickering in the silky light
the wind whistles through her hair like a sigh

the warrior's smile, a peaceful moon and a wicked lie
song of death crying to besmirch the taunting night
poise dwells within the still Samurai

the enemy vermin, claws long, eyes sly
sweep of the sword, blood drips like a falling kite
the wind whistles through the warrior's hair like a sigh

metallic reverberations and piercing cries
the blue eyes of the blonde warrior flash and fight
poise dwells within the still Samurai

the whispering soul lifts from the body, a cloud in the sky
dirty smoke in the iris where once was sight
the wind whistles through the warrior's hair like a sigh

she bows to the felled as he dies
and recites the prayer that is the Samurai's right
poise dwells within the still Samurai
the wind whistles through her hair like a sigh
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The villanelle is a form of poetry (which, if you are a serious poet, you should know).... and the form goes like this:

a1 (a repeating line that rhymes with a2)
b (a line that all of the other b's have to rhyme with)
a2 (a repeating line that rhymes with a1)

a (a line that rhymes with a1 and a2)
b (a line that rhymes with b)
a1

a
b
a2

a
b
a1

a
b
a2

a
b
a1
a2