Villanelle of Ye Young Poet's First Villanelle to his Ladye and Ye Difficulties Thereof
Villanelle of Ye Young Poet's First Villanelle to his Ladye and Ye Difficulties Thereof
Original Text
"Laconics," New London Telegraph (August 27, 1912). Cf. Eugene O'Neill, Poems 1912-1944, ed. Donald Gallup (New Haven and New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1980): 7.
1To sing the charms of Rosabelle,
2To pour my soul out at her feet,
3I try to write this villanelle.
4Now I am caught within her spell,
5It seems to me most wondrous sweet
6To sing the charms of Rosabelle.
7I seek in vain for words to tell
8My love -- Alas, my muse is weak!
9I try to write this villanelle.
10Would I had power to compel
11The English language incomplete
12To sing the charms of Rosabelle.
13The ardent thoughts that in me dwell
14On paper I would fair repeat
15I try to write this villanelle.
16My effort fruitless is. O H--l!
17I'll tell her all when next we meet.
18To sing the charms of Rosabelle,
19I tried to write this villanelle.
Publication Start Year
1912
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1999.
Form