Villanelle 5

For my fifth villanelle in this exploration, I went darker, or at least angrier. Again, I've been free with my meter.

The repetitive nature of the alternating refrains of the villanelle do, as I have mention previously, lend themselves to obsession, or fevered memory. In this piece I wanted to utilize that refraining style to illicit thoughts of anger, (in this case over a damaged relationship of some kind). We tend to be repetitive when we fight, or when we are angry about something, and we tend to emphasize the things that have angered or hurt us the most, sometimes to the exclusion of other, more productive thoughts.

Who is at fault within the relationship on which this poem is based? I'll let you decide.

*

I refuse to take the blame,
(Though I'm the one you will indict.)
I always lose this stupid game.

I think that it's a crying shame;
You never think I could be right.
I refuse to take the blame.

For years and years it's been the same;
No longer will I choose to fight.
I always lose this stupid game.

I wonder when exactly you became
So cold. So angry. So full of spite.
I refuse to take the blame.

Your bitter, raging heart, I've tried to tame,
But you won't accept the light.
I always lose this stupid game.

Well, I shall never speak your name!
Remain here in your manufactured night!
I refuse to take the blame!
I always lose this stupid game.