In Competition No. 2870 you were invited to submit an autumn villanelle.
Stephen Fry likes villanelles. The form inspired him to write his book The Ode Less Travelled (subtitled Unlocking the poet within). I like them too — and so do you, if the size of the entry is anything to go by. A round of applause for the winners below, who take £30 each.
Autumn has come and summer dreams are dead
And though she compensates with golden trees
Beyond her kind deceit death lies ahead.
She wears a smile and moves with gentle tread
And yet her tone will change as time decrees;
Autumn has come and summer dreams are dead.
Too soon her transient beauty will be shed
And withered blooms will disappoint her bees.
Beyond her kind deceit death lies ahead.
Apologies in fruit are brightly spread
But still we hear in every gossip breeze
Autumn has come and summer dreams are dead.
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