A very terrible villanelle

You’re probably familiar with the villanelle as a poetic form because of Dylan Thomas and “Do not go gentle into that good night,” which besides being a terrific example of the form is a really sad and lovely poem.

The following, on the other hand, is

A far cry from Dylan Thomas
I will not write a villanelle;
I’d rather curl up with a book.
But I can’t think of a thing to write.

November had me under its spell;
its writing project I undertook.
But I will not write a villanelle.

Buzzfeed, Facebook and Jezebel,
all distractions of which I’ve betook
when I couldn’t think of a thing to write.

November continues to compel
me to churn out this gobbledygook
but I will not write a villanelle.

Pretty maids and cockleshells,
an empty old sketchbook.
And I can’t think of a thing to write.

I never said I’d write them well,
these poetic forms I’ve forsook.
And I wouldn’t write a villanelle,
But I can’t think of anything else to write.

Somewhat related: Whenever I think of Dylan Thomas, I think of Simon and Garfunkel.

Wibbly wobbly timey wimey books

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center photo
Back when I was able to spend time browsing the stacks at the library, I frequently chose books by their covers. Now, because the kids aren’t really into wiling away the hours, I have to rely on things like “reviews” and “recommendations” when I’m looking for something to read.

A few weeks ago, though, the font on “The River of No Return” by Bee Ridgway caught my eye. I flipped it open and saw that it was about time travel and — sold! — it came home with me. I do love a good time travel book.

“The River of No Return” was a good enough time travel book that it made me eager for the sequel, which Ridgway is apparently in the process of writing. In the meantime, I thought I’d try to find some more good time travel tomes. Here are a few that piqued my interest:

  • “11/22/63,” Stephen King
  • “Doomsday Book” by Connie Willis
  • “To Say Nothing of the Dog” by Connie Willis
  • “How to live safely in a science fictional universe” by Charles Yu
  • I haven’t ever read “A Wrinkle in Time,” although I did try to read it to the kids. I just couldn’t get into it. Do you have any other favorite time-traveling stories?