A terzanelle is a poetic form combining aspects of the villanelle and the terza rima . It is nineteen lines total, with five triplets and a concluding quatrain. The middle line of each triplet stanza is repeated as the third line of the following stanza, and the first and third lines of the initial stanza are the second and final lines of the concluding quatrain; thus, seven of the lines are repeated in the poem. The rhyme scheme and stanzaic structure are as follows (a capitalized letter indicates a line repeated verbatim):
- ABA’
- bCB
- cDC
- dED
- eFE
- fAFA’
WALT’S TERZANELLE:
JOHN LAYS DYING
The women folk are distraught; they’re crying
for a man knocking on the door.
Their tears fall as John lays dying.
It seems that we’ve been here before,
another Christmas time in grief
for a man knocking on the door.
Death comes stealing like a thief,
taking what he wants from life,
another Christmas time in grief.
A hard man to figure; a husband, father to my wife,
a grandfather held in the embrace of love
taking what he wants from life.
A fervent prayer to Him above
wanting to ease his suffering, end his pain.
A grandfather held in the embrace of love
and I stand vigil at this time again!
The women folk are distraught; they’re crying,
wanting to ease his suffering, end his pain.
Our tears fall as John lays dying.
© Walter J. Wojtanik, 2014
***I apologize for the lateness of the form. I currently sit at Brothers of Mercy Nursing Facility in Buffalo, in the Hospice ward. We are in constant vigil for my father-in-law, John Burkowski, to draw his last breath in this life. Suffering from cancer, a brain injury, Parkinson’s, dementia and in the throes of renal failure, John continues to hold onto life with a remarkable courage. We can only wait so long until emotion gets the best of us and we seek relief. My release comes in poetic forms. This poem depicts my state.
