Soapbox for the Ox - villanelle
by Penelope (Member) - published: January 13, 2008
Word Count: 169 Word Bytes: 1270 Viewed: 290 times
Category - Poetry
© Copyright by Penelope

(1 votes)

Rating	Rated by

10	poeteye

You must login to vote

The Ox bellows but rarely balks.
Odd stock to be hitched to a star.
Lumbering via unhamish hocks.

Too often it’s dealt some hard knocks
but a ring won’t inspire it to spar.
The Ox bellows but rarely balks.

Timber giant of fir and hemlocks.
Blue Babe boasted biggest by far,
lumbering via unhamish hocks.

Burdened beast of the boondocks.
Unworthy of grand poobah or czar.
The Ox bellows but rarely balks.

Double yoked and shackled in stocks.
Oxen pairs will pull up to par,
lumbering via unhamish hocks.

The Ox never looks cross as it walks
or gawks at the bazaar bizarre.
The Ox bellows but rarely balks,
lumbering via unhamish hocks.

Penelope Allen
January 13, 2008

CPC Ox Stamp

Author's Note:

villanelle - a nineteen line poem with two rhymes throughout, consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with the first and third lines of the opening tercet recurring alternately at the end of the other tercets and with both repeated at the close of the concluding quatrain.

------
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt

Related Items

Rooster Booster - villanelle

Twenty-Six Titles

Monkey Shines - villanelle

The Ram Gives a Damn - villanelle

Horse Discourse - villanelle

Don't Forsake The Snake - villanelle

Much Ado About Rabbit - villanelle

Where Tigers Bloom - villanelle

Tiger's Tale - villanelle

The Belly Dancer - villanelle

More by Penelope »

Comments

The following comments are for "Soapbox for the Ox - villanelle"
by Penelope

Pen and the ox
Decided to stop by and comment, if it's okay.

Again, and as always, your choice of alliterative clusters is exactly what the poem needs. The "b" alliteration is something I tend to associate with comedy. "B" is alliteratively funny. And in this villanelle, it abounds, and I smile throughout, reading it.

Certainly, the pace at which this villanelle allows itself to be read concurs with motion rather than action and is perfectly adjusted to content. But that's, I think, inextricable from your writing anyway.

And, another tribute to what vocabulary should mean!

You know, sincerely, Pen, (and I'll go back and try to find the Rat, eventually) when you get all twelve written, you will need to sell them to the publisher of the next intelligent Chinese Astrology tome, as introductions to the chapters. I think any publisher worth his/her salt would drool at your villanelles. Consider it, if nothing else.

Lucie

( Posted by: windchime [Member] On: January 18, 2008 )

Lucie
Bless you Lucie - and I mean that sincerely. If you did not comment it would be out of character and it's paramount that you continue being you. Auld Lang Syne (sp?) and all that rot .. ya know?
Yes, these are villanelles about the Chinese years. I screwed up with the sequence because I believed the Dragon was the first of them all. The Rat is. Story goes the rotation is based upon crossing a river. The Rat was carried across by the Ox and jumped off his back so he could be first.
I admired your sestina so much I decided to follow your lead but knew I couldn't manage any sestina to rival yours. I'm writing these for fun and doubt very much I'll submit them at all. It's just nice to be back in a poetry writing mode again.
Happy New Year Lucie.

( Posted by: Penelope [Member] On: January 18, 2008 )

Adversities
Penelope;

Hello! and how are you? I enjoyed the poem; wonder if your brain ever take a break? The words here are awesome! Surviving in the face of adversities. I can imagine the noise they are making...I can get a great vision of this. Thanks for the read.

Blessings,
{{{Jeannie}}}

( Posted by: JEANNIE45 [Member] On: January 18, 2008 )

We are Ox
Penelope,

This is very well constructed, and though the theme is of oxen characteristics, to me it is really about character. The second line, "odd stock to be hitched to a star" lends that essence of you're not just talking Ox here. I think I get it...it is best to hitch yourself to things that matter -- your own "star" -- and stick with it. It is sometimes difficult to be "unworthy of poobay or czar" status but we must work like that unswerving Ox to make the really important things in our lives relevent and necessary. There are so many other influences in our societies that are working to rip our personal lives and our collective cultures to meaningless shreds of snapshot imagery. This poem says if not for the metaphorical "Ox" we have no direction, no accomplishment, no need to inspire.

Great work

BW

( Posted by: BWOz [Member] On: January 19, 2008 )

Jeannie & Brian
Hello Jeannie! So good to hear from you again! Does my brain ever take a break? hmmm Have to think about that. heh heh Hope you hang around for a spell.

Brian - Glad you like this villanelle. Star reference is sorta about Taurus. It crept into the mix when I was writing. I am absolutely thrilled that you gleaned so much meaning out of this villanelle.

( Posted by: Penelope [Member] On: January 20, 2008 )

Know much about nothing
Pen,
I know as much about villanelle form poetry as I do about Chinese Astrological signs -- pretty much zip. The poem might not be intended as deeper metaphor, but it strikes me as that. I believe the Ox to be one of God's most honorable creatures, and so I see a meaning there that we should all aspire to be more Ox-like in our endeavors.

Whatever it all means, I like the poem, and very cleverly crafted use of the villanelle form as I see it.

thanks

BW

( Posted by: BWOz [Member] On: January 20, 2008 )

Add Your Comment

You Must be a member to post comments and ratings. If you are NOT already a member, signup now it only takes a few seconds!

All Fields are required

Login:
Password:

Related Sites:

Skate
*Download movies
*Windows Problem
*GBA Roms
*Hotels