Villanelle Poetry: What It Is and How to Write One

If you’ve ever heard a poem repeat the same line over and over, chances are you were listening to a villanelle. It’s a short, 19‑line form that relies on two refrains and a tight rhyme pattern. The result is a piece that feels musical and memorable, even if you’re new to poetry.

Why does this form stay popular? Writers love the challenge of fitting their ideas into a strict template, and readers enjoy the built‑in echo of the refrains. Below you’ll get the basics, some famous villanelles to check out, and practical tips to start writing your own.

The Classic Villanelle Structure

A villanelle has five tercets (three‑line stanzas) followed by a final quatrain (four lines). The rhyme scheme is ABA for the tercets and ABAA for the quatrain. What makes it unique are the two repeating lines:

• Line 1 appears as the third line of the second stanza, the third line of the fourth stanza, and the first line of the final quatrain.
• Line 2 appears as the third line of the third stanza, the third line of the fifth stanza, and the third line of the final quatrain.

Because those lines keep coming back, you’ll want them to carry the poem’s main emotion or idea. The other lines fill in details, contrast, or expand the theme.

Famous examples include Dylan Thomas’s “Do not go gentle into that good night” and Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art”. Both use the repeated lines to drive a powerful message home while the surrounding verses explore different angles.

Tips for Crafting Your Own Villanelle

1. Pick strong refrains early. Your first two lines should be short, memorable, and flexible enough to fit in several contexts. Try writing a line that can be both a statement and a question.

2. Map the rhyme. Choose a simple rhyme pair like night / light or day / stay. Write a list of words that fit the sound; it will save you time when you fill the stanzas.

3. Outline each stanza. Before you write full sentences, jot down the main idea for each tercet. This keeps the poem focused and prevents the refrains from feeling out of place.

4. Embrace repetition. Don’t force the refrains to mean the exact same thing each time. Let their meaning shift slightly as the surrounding lines change.

5. Edit for flow. After you have a draft, read it aloud. The villanelle should feel like a song with a clear beat. Trim any line that breaks the rhythm.

Starting a villanelle can feel intimidating, but remember the form is a toolbox—not a prison. Use the constraints to spark creativity, and you’ll end up with a poem that sticks in readers’ minds.

Now that you know the basics, pick a theme—loss, love, a simple daily moment—and give the villanelle a try. The more you play with the refrains, the more natural the form will become. Happy writing!