Saturday, January 22, 2005

Rhyme and reason

There are, after all, some grounds for hope
It’s not as desperate as you fear
People do like Wendy Cope

Although poets dismiss a facile trope
“Mere doggerel” is the usual sneer
There are, after all, some grounds for hope

Not everyone has bought the dope
That they should distrust what is made clear
People do like Wendy Cope

Simplicity does limit the scope
For hiding that you’re insincere
There are, after all, some grounds for hope

People who've never heard of Pope
Know of Strugnall's "Ode to beer"
People do like Wendy Cope

It’s not as desperate as you fear
Dumbing down won't happen here
There are, after all, some grounds for hope
People do like Wendy Cope



Martin Locock, 2003

2 comments:

Erin said...

A villanelle? I've just accomplished one of these for the first time in 18 years - they're difficult aren't they? But look how well they read when they're done well. I really like this!

Martin Locock said...

Thanks. I think the good thing about villanelles as a form is that its structure avoids the "rickety rackety" rhythm that gets most verse a bad name.