For the last few weeks we have been reading villanelles. The villanelle is a nineteen-line poem with two repeating rhymes and two refrains. It is thought to have originated in the Italian Renaissance period as a folk song, and been refined by French pastoral poets, but the form today enjoys most regular use by English-speaking poets. Despite its inherent rules of composition, we read two very different villanelles, contemporary (and Chicago-based) poet David Trinidad's Chatty Cathy Villanelle, and The House on the Hill, by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Students discussed the tone or mood of each poem, brainstormed on possible themes (espeically things we do all the time or repeat), and finally wrote villanelles of their own. It's a very tough poetic form to master, so congratulations to those students who did their very best with a hard idea!

Villanelle
Michael B.

Do you have a friend that's crazy?
She likes to visit the zoo.
I do, it's my friend Daneysi.

Sometimes she is lazy.
Her favorite number is two.
Do you have a friend that's crazy?

When she turns red she gets cheesy.
She runs like a kangaroo.
I do, it's my friend Daneysi.

Her nickname is Daisy.
She loves Converse, they are her favorite shoe.
Do you have a friend that's crazy?

Sometimes when she gets car sick she gets queasy.
Her and her babysitter watch Winnie the Pooh.
I do, it's my friend Daneysi.

When she is tired she gets dizzy.
Her favorite computer website is Yahoo!
Do you have a friend that's crazy?
I do, it's my friend Daneysi.

Villanelle
Brian M.

Hello, what do you want to do?
Let's play baseball. Come play with me.
I want to play baseball. What do you?

I'm tired of looking for my shoe.
In the story that I read, there is a boy named Leigh.
Hello, what do you want to do?

I am bored. Who
wants to play with my dog, Shui?
I want to play baseball. What do you?

Boo-hoo! Boo-hoo! Boo-hoo!
I fell off my bike! Please help me.
Hello, what do you want to do?

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
I poked my eyes and can't see!
I want to play baseball. What do you?

My mom is going to sew
my pants, she sews perfectly.
Hello, what do you want to do?
I want to play baseball. What do you?

Villanelle
Genesis V.

Are you cold?
I love to smile.
I am cold and I have gold.

Are you bold?
That is really wild.
Are you cold?

I have gold.
Paper can be filed.
I am cold and I have gold.

It's a paper that I fold.
My friend is mild.
Are you cold?

It's a bird I hold.
The books are piled.
I am cold and I have gold.

It's the batter I mold.
The floor is tiled.
Are you cold?
I am cold and I have gold.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Villanelle
Carmen C.

Summer is fun and new.
I like going to pools.
Do you like summer? Cause I do.

That little girl is wearing some pretty shoes.
They look pretty cool.
Summer is fun and new.

I always like watching the news.
That car ran out of fuel.
Do you like summer? Cause I do.

I like hearing fews.
Boys drool, girls rule.
Summer is fun and new.

Then I gave it a little use
to that little mule.
Do you like summer? Cause I do.

I saw a little goose.
That farmer was very cruel.
Summer is fun and new.
Do you like summer? Cause I do.

Villanelle
Jesus P.

I hate doing chores.
I have to clean up after an ape.
It's something mostly nobody adores.

I have to sweep up floors.
It's always messed up shapes.
I hate doing chores.

I'm always on a dirty course.
My messy cape.
It's something mostly nobody adores.

It always makes me snore.
I stick stuff with tape.
I hate doing chores.

It's like germ wars.
I have to make a crepe.
It's something mostly nobody adores.

It's a mess of pours
and a really messy nape.
I hate doing chores.
It's something mostly nobody adores.

Villanelle
Gabriela T.

Snooze snooze in school all day.
Today I am weak.
So bored so bored with nothing to say.

My teacher said it was okay.
I feel just like a geek.
Snooze snooze in school all day.

Sit down and just lay
because I have to clean a leak.
So bored so bored with nothing to say.

Then in came a guy named Ray.
My mom said there will be an adventure to seek.
Snooze snooze in school all day.

He told us how to make some hay.
I said not maybe this week.
So bored so bored with nothing to say.

Then my teacher said go down the hallway
and then came in with a bird without a beak.
Snooze snooze in school all day.
So bored so bored with nothing to say.

Ms. Rodriguez, 5th Grade

Villanelle
Jannelly A.

I have a dime.
I bought a book
with a certain shine.

That doll is mine.
She took a look.
I have a dime.

I have to rhyme.
It's me she shook
with a certain shine.

I see a mime.
I gave her a hook.
I have a dime.

I'm running out of time.
She made me cook
with a certain shine.

I have to climb.
Turns out she was a crook.
I have a dime.
With a certain shine.

Villanelle
Tristen R.

I like to sleep every day and wake up to play.
I also like to dream.
I am reading a book where a teacher's eyes are gray.

I like to play when it's gray
so I go upstream.
I like to sleep every day and wake up to play.

I like to play when it's gray.
I also eat ice cream.
I am reading a book where a teacher's eyes are gray.

I like to play when it's gray.
I also go into steam.
I like to sleep every day and wake up to play.

I like to play when it's gray.
Look out for that beam!
I am reading a book where a teacher's eyes are gray.

I like to play when it's gray.
What is a ream?
I like to sleep every day and wake up to play.
I am reading a book where a teacher's eyes are gray.

Villanelle
Julian V.

I just woke up this morning, what a day
today makes me say zow!
I woke up on hay!

I can't believe it's May!
I'm angry and I want to go pow!
I just woke up this morning, what a day.

It's a beautiful day.
I want breakfast now!
I woke up on hay.

I want pie for breakfast today
that was good zowie zow!
I just woke up this morning, what a day

today, unusual I say.
I want to go to sleep now!
I woke up on hay.

I guess I'll go and play.
I'll play right now.
I just woke up this morning, what a day
I woke up on hay.

Mrs. Maxwell, 5th Grade

Villanelle
Jacqueline C.

One thing that everybody hates are the old daily chores.
My mom likes me.
One thing that is fun to do is move the boat's large oars.

Everybody should like to go through the house's open doors.
Look at the movie.
One thing that everybody hates are the old daily chores.

Everybody knows their ABC's of course.
Do you like to see?
One thing that is fun to do is move the boat's large oars.

At the farm there was a horse.
Who is he?
One thing that everybody hates are the old daily chores.

I like the tiles on the floors.
Who is she?
One thing that is fun to do is move the boat's large oars.

I like S'mores.
Do you see that bee?
One thing that everybody hates are the old daily chores.
One thing that is fun to do is move the boat's large oars.

Villanelle
Lilibeth G.

I go to school. What do I do?
I went to bed.
I go to sleep. I dream about you?

I went outside and the sky is blue.
I heard my head.
I go to school. What do I do?

My shoes are new,
he said.
I go to sleep. I dream about you?

The answer was new.
I got fed.
I go to school. What do I do?

My friend said that I was cool.
He is dead.
I go to sleep. I dream about you?

I got new shoes.
Let's go to the mall instead.
I go to school. What do I do?
I go to sleep. I dream about you?

Villanelle
Ezequiel L.

The school building is tall.
I found a dollar bill.
I get lost walking in the hall.

There is always at school a law.
I went to the hill.
The school building is tall.

In school they always talk.
There is too much kill.
I get lost walking in the hall.

Some people are small.
I get filled.
The school building is tall.

I saw the wall.
I saw bills.
I get lost walking in the hall.

People always call
until
the school building is tall.
I get lost walking in the hall.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Villanelle
Xavier A.

This is a waste of time.
It's hard to run up a hill.
There is no point in rhyme.

I hope I have a dime.
I hate a big bill.
This is a waste of time.

So there is no slime.
I always see a windmill.
There is no point in rhyme.

I think I know how to climb.
I never feel ill.
This is a waste of time.

To get to the bee hive
this is a waste of skill.
There is no point in rhyme.

I think I know how to dive.
I never stay still.
This is a waste of time.
There is no point in rhyme.

Villanelle
Christian A.

When I play I'm done.
I was going to D.A.R.E.
And I close the door I am gone.

Then the kids came to have fun.
Then I got there.
When I play I'm done.

And we started to run.
But too many people were there.
And I close the door I am gone.

And I started to see the sun.
And I saw a bear.
When I play I'm done.

And then I had a son.
I had too much hair.
And I close the door I am gone.

Then I turn the TV on.
I went downstairs.
When I play I'm done.
And I close the door I am gone.

Villanelle
Michelle Q.

I love it when it's Sunday.
Me and my brothers will play some sports.
It's the day I laugh and play.

Sunday is always before Monday.
My brothers and I make a fort.
I love it when it's Sunday.

I know it's going to be a good day.
My little brother and I will pretend we are at an airport.
It's the day I laugh and play.

Maybe it will be sunny today.
I will see lots of storks.
I love it when it's Sunday.

I might play with toys or clay.
My family and I will finish work.
It's the day I laugh and play.

On Sunday I will say hooray!
It will be very bright in New York.
I love it when it's Sunday.
It's the day I laugh and play.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Villanelle
Jorge A.

I go skateboarding in the dark.
Sometimes I feel bad
when I see my friends at the park.

I can also see a shark.
Today I feel sad.
I go skateboarding in the dark.

I watch TV and I can see an ark.
Yesterday I was mad
when I see my friends at the park.

I write on the tree to make my mark.
Come to my pirate ship, lad.
I go skateboarding in the dark.

I can hear a dog bark.
I say hello to my dad
when I see my friends at the park.

But everyone has a part.
That trick was rad!
I go skateboarding in the dark.
When I see my friends at the park.

Villanelle
Joseph G.

I like to go to school
and I have a little log
because it is very cool

and swim in my pool
only for my frog
I like to go to school

I'd really like to have a jewel
and play with my dog
because it is very cool

and bad people are cruel
and go see a groundhog
I like to go to school

and I use a camel as a mule
and then I see fog
because it is very cool

and I sit on a stool
and write in my blog
I like to go to school
because it is very cool

Villanelle
Cynthia R.

I go outside to go to school
I head to clean my room.
Well I really think it's very cool.

After school I'll go to the pool.
I need to broom.
I go outside to go to school.

In school I have to follow a rule.
I need to groom.
Well, I really think it's very cool.

A boy in my class is a total fool.
I heard a big boom.
I go outside to go to school.

I have a really big jewel.
I go in and zoom.
I really think it's very cool.

I fix my toy with a tool.
I go inside a big doom.
I go outside to go to school.
I really think it's very cool.

Mr. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Villanelle
Marcella F.

I see you, what are you?
When I see you, I'm full of tracks.
I'm peek-a-boo, I rhyme with blue.

When I see you, what can I do?
When I see you, I'm full of stacks.
I see you, what are you?

When I see you, what can I do, boo?
When I see you, I'm full of racks.
I'm peek-a-boo, I rhyme with blue.

When I see you, I moo.
When I see you, I'm full of backs.
I see you, what are you?

When I see you, I look like glue.
When I see you, I'm full of facts.
I'm peek-a-boo, I rhyme with blue.

When I see you, I flew.
When I see you, I'm full of packs.
I see you, what are you?
I'm peek-a-boo, I rhyme with blue.

Villanelle
Omar S.

When I go to sleep
I like to rhyme.
I count terrible sheep.

A chick always peep, peeps
in time
when I go to sleep.

I will never eat a pea
but I like lime.
I count terrible sheep.

In my dream I make a big leap
into dirty pine
when I go to sleep.

Then I jump a hole 1,135 feet deep.
It had a danger sign.
I count terrible sheep.

The hole had terrible heat
but I'm fine.
When I go to sleep
I count terrible sheep.

Villanelle
Amairani Z.

I have so many things in my head.
I found a clock that tells time.
I'd rather do my homework in bed.

I have so much bread.
I found a dime.
I have so many things in my head.

I'd rather do things in red.
I have to tie some vines.
I'd rather do my homework in bed.

I cut papers until they are pieces of dread.
My dog always slimes.
I have so many things in my head.

Id rather do something or die to death.
I always climb.
I'd rather do my homework in bed.

When I run all day I come home with sweat.
Last year I was nine.
I have so many things in my head.
I'd rather do my homework in bed.