"True Love's Call" A villanelle by John Kaniecki

True Love’s Call

By John Kaniecki

I hear at night my true love call

I know not any more precious sound

The sweetest of angels sometimes fall

My beauty, my soul, my passion, my all

I look to you for in you I’m found

I hear at night my true love call

I beg of you a kiss if but small

Let me help you to where you are bound

The sweetest of angels sometimes fall

You are a dream so fondly I recall

I perceive a whisper I chase round and round

I hear at night my true love call

Heaven without you stands not so tall

The essence of love now walks the ground

The sweetest of angels sometimes fall

On the cross for water they gave you gall

Why have you forsaken me, the words resound

I hear at night my true love call

The sweetest of angels sometimes fall


Here is a villanelle that I wrote. I distinctly remember the circumstances of writing this poem. I was in the Montclair Library reading a book about different types of poems. The book was in alphabetical order. When I got to the villanelle section I stopped and wrote two of the poems. This poem True Love's Call was one of them.

As you see the poem has a strict rhyming scheme as well as using repetitive lines. Thus the poem is restrictive just the opposite of what free verse is. Yet in the limitations come out the beauty. Like Picasso's blue period where he limited his choice of colors so also the strict format bring something to life.

In today's world of poetry so many of the poets have abandoned the traditional types of poetry. I would be arrogant to insist that poets should write in any form. However I would be well within my rights to demand that any poet exhibit his skill in writing structured poems such as a villanelle. 

The sad thing today is that I believe the vast majority of poets couldn't write a villanelle or a sonnet or even a rhymed poem that isn't trite. I am not saying that they need to be Shakespeare but they should show some mastery of the language. If I was a musician and I couldn't play a simple, basic song on the piano then why should I respect your improvisation. 

Writing good poetry doesn't take a master's degree in fine art, rather it simply takes talent. I'll let my poems speak for themselves. 

Please take a look at my poetry book "Sunset Sonnets". Sunset Sonnets

Sunset Sonnets is a book of sonnets looking at death in a positive way. 

"As Love Slips Away What Does One Say?"

"Life Is At The Heart Of The Poet But What Place Does Death Hold?" If you love traditional poetry it's a must buy.