Topic: Little Black Book: Villanelles

Everett Ogden

Date: 2007-03-31 21:13 EST
Everett Ogden's desk was becoming a fruitful place, at last. He had the madness of the realm and the influence of his friends to thank for that. The sonnets were coming along and there were nine different outlines of two different five act plays. These took up space in two plain leatherbound books, both in brown.

With the sonnets he had composed on the boat and countless poems in another tome that carried him through his adolesence, Everett had begun to amass quite the prolific pile of work, despite that almost every night was a war with his muse, battling for the words that she would not readily relinquish.

One awful morning, he paused in a shameful walk home to purchase a small black book that he would add to the pile of sketches. This one would carry his villanelles, a new form for the man who lately required a few more ways to express the many emotions that scarred his gentle heart.

Everett Ogden

Date: 2007-03-31 21:14 EST
A heart divided reels in its disgrace.
Though my conscience swears it is depraved,
Our hearts together burn in this embrace.

I would amend the steps I might retrace;
Cold silence was the battle that I braved.
A heart divided reels in its disgrace.

Thy chilling touch. I feel this grief displace
As broken pieces find what they have craved.
Our hearts together burn in this embrace.

Although amends are surely out of place
And these words spent are likely better saved--
A heart divided reels in its disgrace.

A wiser man would let his warmth efface,
But my regard for thee has not been waved.
Our hearts together burn in this embrace.

Indecision clutters this fool's face--
I pray that some goodwill might still be saved.
A heart divided reels in its disgrace;
Our hearts together burn in this embrace.

Everett Ogden

Date: 2007-04-12 17:43 EST
A heart unjust, a soul untrue
Love me, and so, deceive me
Words tilt the universe askew

I would that I did not pursue
Love me, and so, relieve me
A heart unjust, a soul untrue

Falsities they would construe
Love me, and so, believe me
Words tilt the universe askew

Feelings I cannot eschew
Love me, and so, receive me
A heart unjust, a soul untrue

This wrathful blaze will not subdue
Love me, and so, reprieve me
Words tilt the universe askew

Innocence dead because of you.
With each poisoned word, you grieve me
A heart unjust, a soul untrue
Words tilt the universe askew

Everett Ogden

Date: 2010-03-31 01:58 EST
How he yearns to be admired;
O speckled, spotted, blotted beast.
He was not to be desired.

So little was it he required--
Where most take most, he taketh least.
How he yearns to be admired.

As pity and her brood conspired,
All his charms he found decreased.
He was not to be desired...

A fraying frame with edges wired,
A sunset heart stuck facing east,
How he yearns to be admired!

His innocence had long expired
And she eloped with hope, deceased.
He is not to be desired

His ramblings ramble, uninspired,
Shards scattered where they once were pieced.
How he yearns to be admired;
He was not be desired.

Everett Ogden

Date: 2010-03-31 14:40 EST
Hate not the Day when she lifts things to light.
Her sister soothes, for her grace can redeem:
Fear not the dark?her other name is Night.

Confronting demons, shadows which ignite
Old ashen houses, where our failures scream.
Hate not the Day when she lifts things to light.

Swathed in shadow, huddled and contrite,
That which haunts us finds a sweeter dream.
Fear not the dark; her other name is Night.

Although she wounds as keenly as a bite
With the heat of her relentless gleam,
Hate not the Day when she lifts things to light.

In fading she leaves echoes of delight.
A glimpse of life. A taste of love supreme.
Fear not the dark! Her other name is Night.

Betwixt the pair thrives something nearly right.
Two sisters which affect to each extreme.
Hate not the Day when she lifts things to light.
Fear not the dark?her other name is Night.