…I’d probably be obsessed with form, particularly the villanelle, which I imagine must be incredibly difficult to write. And yet a great villanelle, especially read out loud, can be AMAZING.
For those more talented than I, here’s a contest for villanelles. And for those unfamiliar with or fuzzy on the details of the form, you can read more here, and skip to the bottom of this post for an example of a lovely villanelle.
Trellis Magazine Contests
Trellis Magazine invites writers of all ages and skill levels to enter our Villanelle Contest! Instructions on writing a Villanelle, and example poems, are given here. Please read the complete contest guidelines before submitting your poetry. Guidelines and entry form at http://www.trellismagazine.com/contest.html.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
First Place Passerat Villanelle Prize: $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificate, and featured publication in Trellis Magazine.
Second Place Passerat Villanelle Prize: $35 Amazon.com Gift Certificate, and featured publication in Trellis Magazine.
Third Place Prize: $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate, and featured publication in Trellis Magazine.
Book Prize (for students only): $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card, featured publication in Trellis Magazine, and one free print magazine.
Honorable Mention Awards: Featured publication in Trellis Magazine.
Young Poet’s Showcase Awards: Publication in the magazine’s online section for selected student poetry in poetic form.
HOW TO SUBMIT
You must include a Contest Submission Form along with your Villanelle poem. Villanelle Contest Submission Form is at http://www.trellismagazine.com/contest.html
By email, send your entry to: contest@TrellisMagazine.com. Send text submissions in the body of the email or as an attached Word document (only .doc or .txt files will be accepted).
By mail, send your entry to:
Trellis Magazine Contest
PO Box 32265
Raleigh, NC 27622.
Here’s one of my favorite villanelles, from Poets.org. Try reading it out loud.
One Art
by Elizabeth Bishop
The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.
I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.
--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster
