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2/18/2022 8:49:39 AM

Jeff Kyser
Posts: 35

Hello!

There are two lines in the first stanza of the Villanelle that each get repeated 3 times later in the poem. In particular the first line of stanza 1 appears in stanzas 2, 4, and 6.

My question is this: because the line starts at the beginning of a stanza, I used "For" as the first word.

Later in the poem, it is supposed to be the last line of a stanza, and it would read better if I could use "But" as the first word instead.

Are you allowed to make any modification to the repeat line?

Oh, that I would have had a day.
The Lord has called you to His side.
For there were things that I would say.

(later, in stanza 4)

I’m torn, my thoughts in disarray;
I know that you with Him abide,
But there were things that I would say.

Is such a change allowed or disallowed by the form?
edited by ktrails on 2/18/2022
edited by ktrails on 2/18/2022
edited by ktrails on 2/18/2022

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