I’ll have to give up writing villanelles
My rhymes are strained so why not stop this game.
I’ll write the tales of cats who went to hell
I thought if I wrote dozens in a spell
I’d get more skilful and relax again
I’ll have to give up writing villanelles
My inner critic says we’re going to move to Hull
I don’t know if it’s Larkin being famed
I’ll write the tales of cats who went to hell
I guess the housework made me feel unwell
I didn’t do it but I saw it, all the same.
I’ll have to give up writing villanelles
Maybe my ideas need to gell
And that’s not easy with a villanelle
I’ll write the tales of cats who went to hell
I ought to write some words that I can sell.
Or letters to the papers, all insane
I’ll have to give up writing villanelles
I’ll write more tales of cats who went to hell!










