Good Day Villanelle

Damian Rogers

You ran naked out the door.

The neighbours laughed; I chased you down.

I hardly see you anymore.

I know you’re busy.

Did I tell you when you were little how

you ran naked out the door?

You got halfway down the street

before I caught you in my arms.

I hardly see you anymore.

I think I told you this before:

I was giving you a bath and then

you ran naked out the door.

It happened fast.

The neighbours laughed.

I hardly see you anymore.

You have to watch a baby close.

I remember once —

You ran naked out the door.

I hardly see you anymore.

Damian Rogers

The founding Creative Director of Poetry In Voice, Damian Rogers put together our poetry anthology and helped develop our senior recitation…

Grade levels

3 & 4

5 & 6

Tags

Moods

Common Poetic Terms and Forms

Contest Criteria

25 Lines or Fewer

Dive In

Is this a painful poem about a funny memory, or a funny poem about a painful memory?

Who is the speaker talking about? What are some of the possibilities, and how would that change your understanding of the poem?

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Bibliographical info

Damian Rogers, “Good Day Villanelle” from Dear Leader. Copyright © 2015 by Damian Rogers. Reprinted by permission of Coach House Books.

Source: Dear Leader (Coach House Books, 2015)

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