Villanelle for a Sleeping Koala

[Shelley Hansen]

Never let it be said I turned down a challenge! Neville has prompted me to take the plunge and post my villanelle - perhaps not really bush poetry, but it is Australian-themed and it does rhyme in its structured and repetitive pattern.

Our neighbour's tall eucalpyt has been home to a koala family for many years - they come and go, crossing a busy road, stopping traffic, and braving roaming dogs who are too often unleashed. Then there is the terrible blindness affecting their whole species. Yet they sleep on, seemingly unconcerned by the perils that assail them.

Villanelle for a Sleeping Koala
(c) Shelley Hansen 2012

Koala in my neighbour's tree,
you sway upon its topmost height!
How can you sleep so peacefully?

Emerging from your pouch I see
your little one, with eyes so bright –
koala in my neighbour’s tree.

As seasons pass, do you still see
or does disease blot out your sight?
How can you sleep so peacefully?

Beware, lest dogs should be set free
and kill you with their savage bite –
koala in my neighbour’s tree.

Do you not travel timidly
across the busy road at night?
How can you sleep so peacefully?

How can you understand that we
see all the dangers you must fight?
Koala in my neighbour’s tree –
how can you sleep so peacefully?

[Neville Briggs]

That's great Shelley . Of course it is bush poetry. I cannot understand why you say it is not bush poetry.

[Maureen K Clifford]

I agree with Neville on all counts Shelley - it is a beaut Villanelle and about as bushy as it gets Do you want to share it?

[alongtimegone]

Nice one Shelley and how much more bushy than a koala in a gum tree can you get?
Wazza

[Shelley Hansen]

Thanks all!

Maureen, by all means share it if you wish - many thanks.

I agree that the poem certainly is traditional rhyming Australian poetry - the only reason I baulked at giving it the "bush" label is that the villanelle poetry form well and truly precedes anything of that genre - and has its roots in old pastoral poetry of Europe. The earliest surviving villanelle dates from 1606 by French poet Jean Passerat.

But if you reckon my effort fits under the bush poetry umbrella - I'm happy!

Cheers
Shelley

[Maureen K Clifford]

Well I like - I've shared it over to our ABPA Facebook page - I bet it gets heaps of people looking at it and I will also run it in a June issue of the mag. Are you convinced now that it is good.

[Shelley Hansen]

Thanks so much Maureen - I appreciate your support.

It's the term "bush poetry" I wasn't sure about - traditional (yes), rhyming (yes), Australian (yes). I suppose that adds up. Just wondering because of the villanelle's ancient origins. But I suppose all rhyming poetry has ancient origins!

Thanks for the commendation

Cheers
Shelley

[thestoryteller]

Rather interesting the life of a koala Shelly.

Not everybody's life sitting in the fork of a tree doping oneself with gum leaves to sleep away the hours until
next feed.

Cute though, until you have to remove one from the power lines, which I've had to do. Get a bit snaky and
can thread the hand quite easily.

Still they generally don't hurt anyone but sadly are under great threat to survive.

Enjoyed the read.


Merv.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Nice work, Shelley.