"Strike the lute" [villanelle]

Strike the lute & sing of love
                          & nothing more
stand beneath the window
            when the breeze of spring
wafts again most gently
                            carol & adore

ask again why why roses bloom   what are they for?
ponder one more time   why birds are born with wings
strike the lute & sing of love   & nothing more

let your voice be like the pitcher   pour & pour!
let your love be like the raincloud April brings
sing again most gently   carol & adore

long was winter's night!   too long the knell of war
far too long the time when darkness reigned as king
strike the lute & sing of love   & nothing more

grain will come at summer's end to fill the floor!
kiss those petal-lips   whose sweetness bears no sting
sing again most gently   carol & adore

deep are caverns   deep are thoughts   how deep the lore
of minstrels who   to win her favor   laud & sing
strike the lute & sing of love   & nothing more
sing again most gently   carol & adore




Initially posted to a literary discussion forum here (where I then expound some notions about qualities of the villanelle form per se). I'm also dabbling at trying to work out a melody for this poem.