All I want to do is tell a story
That's full of humor, one that casts a spell.
But damn the villanelle, it won't let me.

I began to write when I was three.
The joy of it brought me out of my shell.
All I want to do is tell a story

Of knights and wizards and Mr. Freeze,
witches burned, the after-smell,
But damn, the villanelle, it won't let me.

They say, “The form is circular, but gee,
It's so great that you're trying. You mean well.”
Check this out – I'll tell a friggin' story:

Once upon a time, a king's decree
spread across the land of … ah hell -
This interrupting villanelle won't let me!

I study poetry out of curiosity,
try out new forms, some of which don't gel.
All I wanted was to tell a story
But damn. This villanelle, it won't … see?