I need help writing a Villanelle?

Question

Could you please explain to me in lehmans terms and very slowly how to write a villanelle?

Answer 1

I think you would rather have me explain it in "layman's terms" since lehmans terms, though frighteningly precise are also infinitely complex.

Villanelle: Lines can be of any single length. nineteen lines divided into six stanzas--five triplets and one quatrain--turning on two rhymes and built on two refrains. The refrains consist of lines one (I) and three (3) complete. Line one (1) reappears as lines six (6), twelve (12), eighteen (18); line three (3) reappears as lines nine (9), fifteen (15), and nineteen (19), finishing the poem. "Do not go gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas is a famous example. Below is a diagram:

Lines Refrains and
Rhymes

1. A--refrain
2. b
3. A--refrain

4. a
5. b
6. A--refrain

7. a
8. b
9. A--refrain

10. a
11. b
12. A--refrain

13. a
14. b
15. A--refrain

16. a
17. b
18. A
19. A

Answer 2

I'm a writer, and I have a degree in English. I have no idea what a villanelle is. I bet that means many people here don't. Might you add to your question to clarify what it is you want? Thanks in advance.

Answer 3

Boy it's really a tough assignment.

Try this site:

http://www.uni.edu/~gotera/CraftOfPoetry/villanelle.html