Villanelle: Where Seasons Meet

Cairngorms National Park

a black whippet in a black jacket sniffing snow along a forest trail

it’s good to breathe the scent of pine
the freshness of our lingering snow
brings winter romance to our time

a blue whippet in a black jacket turning back along a forest trail beside the pine trees and heather

the snow-capped mountain turns to shrine
for seeking peace, a letting go
it’s good to breathe the scent of pine

a river flowing beside a forest trail with overhanging pine trees

our spring begins to bloom and shine
while snow-melt and the river’s flow
bring winter romance to our time

a blue whippet in a black jacket walking through a puddle of melted snow on a forest trail

the forest trail begins to climb
we pause to watch the mountain grow
it’s good to breathe the scent of pine

a blue whippet in a black jacket on her hind legs between the heather, watched by a black whippet in a black jacket from the forest trail

the air tastes pure, so sweet and fine
our woolly hats and ruddy glow
bring winter romance to our time

a black whippet in a black jacket walking towards a blue and white whippet in a black jacket on a forest trail

two seasons meet along fine lines
we cherish both and deeply know
it’s good to breathe the scent of pine
bring winter romance to our time

view across the heather and pine-clad hills towards the snow-capped mountains

This is our second contribution to this month’s Villanelle challenge at dVerse Poets. You can read our first contribution at A Voice that Knows and our third contribution Worth Waiting For has now been published on our sister blog Tranature.

A Villanelle is a French verse form consisting of five three-line stanzas and a final quatrain, with the first and third lines of the first stanza repeating alternately in the following stanzas. These two refrain lines form the final couplet in the quatrain (the Poetry Foundation)

Below is the complete version of the Villanelle:

it’s good to breathe the scent of pine
the freshness of our lingering snow
brings winter romance to our time

the snow-capped mountain turns to shrine
for seeking peace, a letting go
it’s good to breathe the scent of pine

our spring begins to bloom and shine
while snow-melt and the river’s flow
bring winter romance to our time

the forest trail begins to climb
we pause to watch the mountain grow
it’s good to breathe the scent of pine

the air tastes pure, so sweet and fine
our woolly hats and ruddy glow
bring winter romance to our time

two seasons meet along fine lines
we cherish both and deeply know
it’s good to breathe the scent of pine
bring winter romance to our time

© Xenia Tran

The prompt at dVerse remains open if you want to participate and there are now more than seventy contributions for you to enjoy.

With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Settings: f/2.8 – 1/320 s – ISO 100, f/2.8 – 1/1250 s – ISO 160, f/4.5 – 1/250 s – ISO 200, f/2.8 – 1/250 s – ISO 100, f/2.8 – 1/160 s – ISO 100, f/2.8 – 1/800 s – ISO 100 and f/4 – 1/800 s – ISO 160.

dVerse Poets Forms for All: The Villanelle

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Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

59 thoughts on “Villanelle: Where Seasons Meet”

  2. What a wonderful poem, Xenia. And the photos fit perfectly. You are such a positive writer, thinker, and living being. Hugs to your sweethearts and may it warm up soon, so the jackets can be put away. 🙂 We are currently in the company of three big labs! A handful, but they are all lover boys. 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Liesbet, the temperature continues to fluctuate and Eivor and Pearl were happy to sniff and lick some snow again 😁 Your three labs sound like a lot of fun and we wish you a blessed and happy time with them. Big hugs and lots of love from all of us here 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Cathy and hope you’re having a great week! I’m slowly catching up after a few computer glitches. Much love to you and Finn from all of us here 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

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      1. We’re having another spell of sunny weather, which is very nice. Sorry you’re having computer problems, hope things are sorted now. Much love from our house to yours 💖🐕xxx

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      2. Thank you dear Cathy, good to hear you’re having a fine sunny spell! 💜🌞 It’s nice here too and still fresh. A recent big software update caused a few problems and thankfully it looks as if my laptop is feeling better now 😁💖🍀 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Laurie 💜 We’re so blessed to have both – nature and dogs bring so much light into our world and we’re grateful we can walk these trails together 🙂🐾💖🐾 xxx

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  15. I got such a chuckle out of the photo where Pearl is ‘standing’ on Eivor. Not really, but at a quick glance, that is what I saw! 🙂 You are such a master of poetry, Xenia. I really like today’s offering.

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  16. I admire the two seasons in your villanelle with:

    our spring begins to bloom and shine
    while snow-melt and the river’s flow

    I breathing in the scent of pine. Thanks for sharing your 2nd villanelle.

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  18. I always appreciate stopping by here. I love how your dogs are family, and and show up often in the poetics. Your photography is wonderful as well. You are pitch perfect with the form.

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  20. Oh, I love this so. The images are beautiful and the scent of pine redolent. My romantic soul is filled and I’m smiling. I love thresholds and this line is imaginative and powerful “two seasons meet along fine lines”. Thank you!

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  23. Pingback: Villanelle: Worth Waiting For – Tranature
  24. Pingback: Villanelle: A Voice that Knows – Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey

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