Analysis of When Nighttime Sings A Villanelle

Alan S Jeeves 1951 (Lancashire)



I sing the gentle villanelle,
A villenesque so slightly said,
Howbeit the nighttide casts her spell.

And now the rune I know so well
Remains, remembered, in my head;
I sing the gentle villanelle.

As evening leaves and shadows dwell
The golden brightness all but fled,
Howbeit the nighttide casts her spell.

The flowing verse, her tale to tell,
Inhibitions adrift and shed,
I sing the gentle villanelle.

And owls resound about the fell,
The day replaced with night's instead,
Howbeit the nighttide casts her spell.

Yet me, contented, in my shell
Warmly, snugged and safe a-bed;
I sing the gentle villanelle
Howbeit the nighttide casts her spell.


Scheme AbA abA abA abA abA abAA
Poetic Form Villanelle 
Metre 110101 011101 101101 01011111 01010011 110101 1101011 01010111 101101 01010111 0100101 110101 0110101 0111101 101101 11010011 1010101 110101 101101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 626
Words 108
Sentences 6
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4
Lines Amount 19
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 86
Words per stanza (avg) 18

About this poem

A 19th. Century (8 syllable) villanelle

Font size:
 

Submitted by AlanSJeeves on July 06, 2021

Modified on March 05, 2023

32 sec read
4

Alan S Jeeves

Alan S Jeeves is a Lancashire (England) born, Yorkshire based classical poet. more…

All Alan S Jeeves poems | Alan S Jeeves Books

3 fans

Discuss this Alan S Jeeves poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "When Nighttime Sings A Villanelle" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/104325/when-nighttime-sings-a-villanelle>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    9
    days
    0
    hours
    48
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    I wandered lonely as a _______ that floats on high o'er vales and hills
    A cloud
    B star
    C flower
    D bird