I was moved to compose a Valentine’s villanelle for my new husband. However, I was quickly encumbered by the dearth of words that rhyme with love. And I never noticed before, but nothing rhymes with poem. Despite the title’s promising alliteration, it quickly spun out of control, crashed, and burned. I present my failed effort here only for your amusement.
Valentine’s Villanelle
I wrote you a poem on Valentine’s day
To express the depth of my love
In the most romantic way.
Yes, sentimental verses are so cliche
But since it fits my emotions like a glove
I wrote you a poem on Valentine’s day.
Actually, villanelles are not an easy way to say
Things that I want to speak of
In the most romantic way.
“Bouquet, cabernet, souffle, sorbet…”
But not many words rhyme with love.
Umm…I wrote you a poem on Valentine’s day.
I guess villanelles are poor to convey
The esteem that I alluded to, above,
In the most romantic way.
And when my words may go astray,
Just give me a shove —
I wrote you a poem on Valentine’s day
In the most romantic way.
