VILLANELLE
A villanelle is a poem of nineteen lines, and which follows a strict form that consists of five tercets (three-line stanzas) followed by one quatrain (four-line stanza). Villanelles use a specific rhyme scheme of ABA for their tercets, and ABAA for the quatrain.

Don’t Dally Long
Don’t dally long, for time will swiftly fade.
Tomorrow may emerge to be the day
they sing your final, finest accolade.

It’s time to allocate your lambskin suede.
Don’t leave your paperwork in disarray.
Delay is wrong, for time will swiftly fade.

Embrace and breathe where seabirds wing and wade,
the sandy landscape, destined there to stay
regardless of your final accolade.

You’re urged to stipulate how you’ll be laid,
to choose the blooms that swell your sweet bouquet,
for flowers wilt and blossoms swiftly fade.

Contentment with the memories you made
will bide in souls you leave behind, as they
salute your final, finest accolade.

Prepared, your earthly burdens planned and prayed.
Your mind at peace, assured a world will say
you didn’t dally long for time to fade.
All sing your final, finest accolade.