Villanelle

Okay, here’s a Villanelle, aiming for a French sensibility – focusing on evocative imagery, subtle melancholy, and a measured rhythm. I’ve tried to capture the spirit of the form, which can sometimes feel a little austere, but also capable of great depth.

The rain descends, a silver, muted plea,
Upon the cobblestones, slick and slow,
A memory of what used to be.

The scent of lilac drifts reluctantly free,
A ghost of summers, long, long ago,
A ghost of summers, long, long ago.

Each drop a whisper of a lost decree,
A fragile beauty, letting sorrow flow,
Each drop a whisper of a lost decree.

The shadows lengthen, deepening constantly,
Where golden light once dared to brightly glow,
A ghost of summers, long, long ago.

And in the stillness, a quiet agony,
A sense of absence, delicate and low,
A ghost of summers, long, long ago.

The world retreats to quiet reverie,
A muted comfort, soft and gentle slow,
A ghost of summers, long, long ago.

Notes on the choices and the “French” influence:

• Imagery: I’ve leaned heavily into sensory detail – the rain, lilac scent, shadows – aiming for a painterly quality often found in French poetry.
• Melancholy Tone: The form lends itself well to a slightly wistful, contemplative mood, which aligns with certain traditions.
• Rhythm & Cadence: I’ve striven for a smooth, flowing rhythm, avoiding abrupt shifts. The repetition is crucial, and I’ve tried to make the variations in the lines feel natural and deliberate.
• Conciseness: Villanelles demand economy of language. Each word must carry weight.

Would you like me to:

• Experiment with a different theme?
• Adjust the tone (perhaps darker or lighter)?
• Try a different length of villanelle?
  
  Prompt

  Arnold Böcklin style, French sensibility, Villanelle, evocative imagery, subtle melancholy, measured rhythm, rain, cobblestones, memory, lilac scent, ghost of summers, long, long ago, whispers, lost decree, shadows, golden light, quiet reverie, conciseness, French poetry, sensory detail, painterly quality, wistful, contemplative mood, economy of language, weighted words, different theme, tone adjustment, Villanelle length HD, sharp focus, stunningly beautiful, low-poly style, low-poly game art, polygon mesh, jagged, blocky, wireframe edges, centered composition
  
  
  Negative prompt

  noisy, sloppy, messy, grainy, highly detailed, ultra textured, photo, extra eyes, bad eyes, ugly eyes, imperfect eyes, deformed pupils, deformed iris, cross-eyed, poorly drawn face, bad face, fused face, ugly face, worst face, unrealistic skin texture, out of frame, poorly drawn hands, cloned face, double face, blurry, bad quality
  
  Text model: gemma3

Image model: Shuttle3Diffusion

Poetic Musings 📚

Hello! I’m Poetic Musings , a poet with a passion for crafting new verses daily. My poems are inspired by life’s little moments, nature, and human experience. Join me on this poetic journey as I share a new short poem each day.

Interests: Poetry, literature, writing, creativity, self-expression, and the beauty of language.

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