[Nausheen Eusuf]

Melissa Balmain has a moving villanelle on the Rattle website today, as part of the Poets Respond series. Here's the link. Congrats, Melissa!

Melissa, I confess I was surprised to see a 'serious' poem, since I think of you as the mistress of light verse. Of course, I was silly to have pigeonholed you thus. Apologies. Turns out your serious poems are just as good as the funny ones!

Nausheen

[Roger Slater]

Wonderful poem. Particulary effective use of the villanelle repetends in the way they come together for a different meaning/perspective in the final two lines.

[Ned Balbo]

Yet another lovely poem with a serious underpinning. Yes, it sure would be great if that impulse toward unity was a little less fleeting! Great poem, Melissa.

[Melissa Balmain]

Nausheen, Bob, Ned: thanks so much! (And Nausheen, you're right that most of my poems tend toward humor, though of course light verse--such a problematic term!--can get at serious stuff when it wants to. In any case, you crack me up with "mistress of light verse." )

[Susan McLean]

Wonderful villanelle, Melissa! I love the way the villanelle form itself always threatens to leave the poet stuck, and the way you escape those impasses. Cheers!

Susan

[Jerome Betts]

Brilliant use of the form, Melissa, for a serious reflection. Congratulations! Sadly for the short-lived 'impulse toward unity', it seems Elon Musk is doing his best to rain on the parade.

[Bill Carpenter]

Brilliant, love the reversal.