Blog Archives
DADT (1994 – 2011) – A Villanelle
DADT (1994 – 2011)
Welcome to one Private’s unprivate personal hell
Let’s drink a toast in honour of Benny
Shot through the heart by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
A spiteful, misbegotten fear cloaked in a pious shell
Let’s drink a toast in honour of Denny
Welcome to one Private’s unprivate personal hell
Discharged to stop them tainting other personnel
Let’s drink a toast in honour of Jenny
Shot through the heart by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
There’s no marker on the battlefield where they fell
Let’s drink a toast in honour of Kenny
Welcome to one Private’s unprivate personal hell
Just to speak their love’s name was to rebel
Let’s drink a toast in honour of Lenny
Shot through the heart by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
They understood prejudice only too well
Let’s drink a toast in honour of Penny
Welcome to one Private’s unprivate personal hell
Shot through the heart by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
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Alas – A Villanelle (Reposted)
ALAS: A VILLANELLE*
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight.
The sky is overcast and all is maya,
For I confess I see no hope in sight;
Where once each daybreak promised fresh delight
We only found that time had proved a liar.
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight.
These poor neglected coals cast little light,
So place another log upon the fire,
For I confess I see no hope in sight.
The wind is chill and bitter; hold me tight
And stoke the fire till the flames climb higher.
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight.
Let’s not apportion blame or rue what might.
How can we but accept the trundling gyre?
For I confess I see no hope in sight.
In impasse let us yet remain polite;
Offer comfort, even as our dreams expire.
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight,
For I confess I see no hope in sight.
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You’re Havin’ A Laugh – A Villanelle
YOU’RE HAVIN’ A LAUGH
So you think it’s easy? Bloody hell!
This challenge went out (sadly, no money)
to squeeze some humour from a villanelle.
Why not have a go? It’ll soon begin to gel.
You’ve always liked being funny,
so you think it’s easy. Bloody hell!
This nonchalance is bogus; Can’t you tell?
I s’pose I could try for something punny,
to squeeze some humour from a villanelle.
It’s thinking cap on; thoughts rush about pell-mell
like some amphetamine-fuelled Easter Bunny.
So you think it’s easy? Bloody hell!
But you just can’t fail with a personal smell
and the heat of an Australian outback dunny
to squeeze some humour from a villanelle.
It may not exactly be Dylan Thomas, but well …
I’ll get there. Pass the bottle, my honey.
So you think it’s easy – Bloody hell! –
to squeeze some humour from a villanelle?
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Alas – A Villanelle*
ALAS: A VILLANELLE*
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight.
The sky is overcast and all is maya,
For I confess I see no hope in sight;
Where once each daybreak promised fresh delight
We only found that time had proved a liar.
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight.
These poor neglected coals cast little light,
So place another log upon the fire,
For I confess I see no hope in sight.
The wind is chill and bitter; hold me tight
And stoke the fire till the flames climb higher.
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight.
Let’s not apportion blame or rue what might.
How can we but accept the trundling gyre?
For I confess I see no hope in sight.
In impasse let us yet remain polite;
Offer comfort, even as our dreams expire.
Alas, I bring no stardust home tonight,
For I confess I see no hope in sight.
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Ben Naga 