I have loved today’s poetic prompt as it has been a real stretch. The suggestion is to write a Villanelle poem that incorporates phrases that oppose each other in some way and contains some lines taken from an outside text. In my poem there are four borrowed lines, one from a random one I found online, one that originally comes from “Sonnet 29” by Shakespeare, one from John Donne’s “The Sun Rising” and one from “When I have Fears that I May Cease to Be” by John Keats.
Despite Ourselves
The thrill is often found within the chase
Unbearable to live upon knife’s edge
Some thrive when lust compels their heart to race
Compose myself with poised and earnest face
I love your lips when they are wet with wine
The thrill is often found within the chase
No one could ever say that I’m straight-laced
It’s safer to take refuge and recoil
Some thrive when lust compels their heart to race
I hang on to your scent and to your trace
I all alone beweep my outcast state
The thrill is often found within the chase
Reduced to longings primitive and base
Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?
Some thrive when lust compels their heart to race
Despite myself I know we will embrace
Before my pen has gleaned my teaming brain
The thrill is often found within the chase
Some thrive when lust compels their heart to race
Image : https://unsplash.com/photos/15uadDpdo24
Published by Sam Allen Creative Coach
As well as being a poet, highly-sensitive being and self-confessed Crazy Cat Lady, I am a Creative Leadership Coach, Trainer and Team Coach with considerable experience in coaching clients in the Creative, Manufacturing, and Pharmaceutical sectors.
I specialise in helping individuals and teams to work past limiting beliefs, to think outside-of-the-box and to show up as conscious, inspiring and dynamic leaders. I am passionate about helping leaders to show up authentically and I design and co-lead bespoke Conscious Leadership programmes for FMCG organisations wishing to create opportunities for their employees to shine and truly maximise their potential.
In addition, I co-facilitate Happy Teams workshops, helping remote teams to build trust and connect to their strengths, purpose and vision in playful, creative and experiential ways.
A co-active coach with PCC accreditation from the ICF, I am also Leadership Circle Profile certified and ORSC trained. I graduated from the CTI Inner Leadership programme in February 2020 and know from firsthand experience what it means to do the deep, inner work needed for personal growth. I hold a BA in French and Drama and a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages.
Throughout my coaching career I have empowered individuals to write books, make life-affirming career changes, overcome anxiety and to take giant leaps towards heightened self-realisation, increased authentic leadership presence and spiritual growth. An ex-lawyer and C-suite executive client recently shared that she had “never experienced anything so powerful” and that she is now able to “trust her truth”. One global client team leader reported being “touched, motivated, encouraged and brimming with energy” and another shared that his team was able to “demonstrate their creativity and really get behind their vision”.
My personal and team coaching style is playful, intuitive, somatic and compassionate. My workshop facilitation style is dynamic, inclusive, expressive and authentic and my 20 years experience as an international school educator and team leader have contributed to my ease in leading group facilitation.
My superpower is using my incredible intuition and sensitivity to see into people and challenge them in a powerfully courageous way. A prolific poet and podcaster, I live and breathe my own creativity and in turn inspire others to do the same View all posts by Sam Allen Creative Coach
Beautifully penned x
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Thanks I loved this one as there were so many challenges!
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Kudos to you Sam on the way you handled this. Its all tied up so well. I really like the lines you’ve chosen. They go so well together.
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Thank you so much! I really enjoyed this prompt – it was challenging!
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It definitely was. And you scored a full 10! 🙂
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Ah thank you! 🙂
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This is lovely. I get the sense someone is about to go chasing love and is full of optimism about it. Very nice.
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Thank you! Lovely feedback 🙂
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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Hi Sam,
Thanks for your visit to mylastmuse.com. This poem is vibrant, energetic, full of life! Villanelles can be tough but this composition you wrote is so beautiful. I felt as if I was caught up in the chase. Brought back wonderful and delightful feelings of love. Thank you for reminding me how wonderful love and life are.
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Thank you so much John. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my poem and to respond to it so thoughtfully!
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You are so welcome Sam, keep writing and stay creative. Thanks for your visit.
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Thanks John!
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Perfectly executed. Well done.
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Thanks Peter!
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Hi Sam, I enjoyed reading your Villanelle, they are not as easy as they look and you handled your prompt challenge excellently…… I’d like to thank you for following my blog/website, I hope you enjoy reading my humble writings, and I’m from, Geelong , Australia. Cheers. Ivor. I did write a Villanelle, last year. https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/a-single-weeping-tree-a-villanelle/
I’m happy to say I’m now following you and I’ll try and hook up with you on Instagram(my computer nous is not strong)
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Thanks so much, going to check out your villanelle now…
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This reads so well. There’s something so satisfying about creating poetry using a set form, isn’t there? I’d never come across the idea of borrowing lines from outside sources before; what a great idea! Thanks again for dropping by and reading my villanelle.
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I know it feels like a real personal accomplishment doesn’t it?
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Lovely. The flow is infectious. 🙂
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Thank you Sunita!
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Excellent. Great choice of borrowed lines, and great handling to pull them together into a coherent poem. Villanelles are tough enough without the extra challenges.
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Thanks so much. They are tough and also satisfying to complete!
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I think I’ve only ever finished two, and they weren’t very good. 🙂
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Two more than most!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Your words bring out the experience of an individual’s journey and your repetitive lines remind me of how we are all different. Great words!
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Thank you Astrid!
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What an amazing poem! Glad I “clicked” in. I did the prompt, but only a villanelle, hard enough for me without adding the other 2 options. Hope you will read.
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Thank you so much! Can you send me the link to yours please?
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mehflowers.WordPress.com
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Hi there, this isn’t the link – can you copy and past the url. Would love to read this! 🙂
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Nice work. Just getting through writing a Villanelle is an accomplishment.
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Yep it’s like solving a puzzle!
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That’s an excellent analogy.
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Outstandingly done!
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Thank you! 🙂
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You’ve had fabulous response from other poets and you deserve it. A beautiful flow.
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Thank you so much!
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Nice. Villanelle it is. Gr8.
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Thank you 🙂
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