Master makers of motley masks are we
Making masks like a dainty packrat’s nest
Bits of the world woven for all to see
World is too wild for one naked to be
Hiding behind masks can one safely rest
Master makers of motley masks are we
Pick and choose as per his fancy does he
The packrat material for his nest
Bits of the world woven for all to see
The true face lies safe under lock and key
The mask goes out and faces life’s contest
Master makers of motley masks are we
Does provide material every
Experience to forge one’s mask the best
Bits of the world woven for all to see
One day true self will soar high and fly free
Only the best masks will stay and time test
Master makers of motley masks are we
Bits of the world woven for all to see
My first attempt at a type of poetry called Vilanelle. Here's the definition from Wikipedia. The accompanying picture belongs to Tess Kincaid of Magpie Tales. This poem has been inspired by the photo. I tried to compare the human life to that of a packrat. The same way packrat that lives a short life leaves behind middens that last for centuries, humans leave behind memories. The way packrat builds its nest from things around, we build our personalities from the experiences the world gives us. Our personalities are like our masks that we present to the world and that is what the people remember after we are gone. This post had been posted for weekly prompt for Magpie Tales Mag 74 and Jingle Poetry Week 44 Poetry Potluck- Painting Whispers.
17 comments:
Great response to the prompt. A real cracker.
Wonderful poem! True each word of it, loved it!
Great writing on the mask prompt. Your words speak volumes about the state we find ourselves in.
Thanks, Arti. Good to see your comment after quite a while.
Thanks, Dave and Marbles.
I love the villanelle style. Well done.
Imaginative use of the refrain throughout. Great alliteration. :)
cool take on the prompt.
your words inspire, glad to see you share with poetry potluck.
Thanks a lot for your encouraging comments, Tess, Joe and Jingle
I always love your experiments with new poetic forms. "Master makers of motley masks" is a very cool line. I loved the chant like repetition of it. I'm wondering now if the climatic poem in Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a vilanelle
I really love this, in my earlier poems I wrote frequently about the masks we wear. Gorgeous poem I love the rhythm and repetition
I am always in awe of people who are able to create beautiful poems using forms... I just never am able to get my head around them. This was well done and beautiful!!
Great attempt at this very difficult form.
wow!! its really great concept ...& ur expression is superb!!
"One day true self will soar high and fly free"
very very true word!!
keep writing & smiling always :)
Thanks a lot, Stan, mindlovemisery,ccchampagne, Doctor FTSE and Sowmya.
@Stan - The wiki article on vilanelle mentions the poem you mention as a vilanelle.
@mindlovesmisery - Usually rhyme and rythm come much better when following standard forms I feel
@ccchampagene - I somehow find form poetry easier than free verse.
Victorious vilanelle...
The true face lies safe under lock and key
The mask goes out and faces life’s contest
the above lines were great!
Thanks a lot, Trellismo and Kalahari Blues.
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