I have been reading poetry for some time. However, I have never attempted to write anything down. Until now. I started a creative writing course today and tonight I have dedicated some time to write my first poem.
I decided on a villanelle, because I found the strict form easier to work with for a first attempt. Hopefully, by the end of my creative writing course I will have improved my usage of poetic devices and, I think, it will be nice to compare this poem with poems when I have completed the course. So without further adue, my debut villanelle, ‘Disease of Talentless Celebrity’.
DISEASE OF TALENTLESS CELEBRITY
In constant fear of mediocrity,
Nobodies are infected, with desired
Disease of talentless celebrity.
Bright young things loose all sense of faculty.
Watched by more nobodies, being admired
In constant fear of mediocrity.
Focused minds, unsure of reality,
Fuel and stimulate, symptoms of desired
Disease of talentless celebrity.
Can we instil, with a sense of verity,
That to be valid, they should not be mired
In constant fear of mediocrity?
The short sharp shock of actuality
Is the only remedy for desired
Disease of talentless celebrity.
Their belief in your incredulity
serves only to rebel, rant and deride
In constant fear of mediocrity.
Disease of talentless celebrity.
— John Nixon, 2007
Lambtonbookworm 