I'm back, tired and with piles of work, so you'll excuse me if I run away quickly to do it. In the meantime, you might want to check out a nice review of my book and some others at Paramour's webpage. They put out a nice magazine...
And a collaborative villanelle from this weekend, in the old style:
A Slight Persuasion
Are there words that I could sayTo bring you to my arms this night?
I know it's true you cannot stay,
And yet if you should walk away,
The pleasure lost would not be slight...
Are there words that I could say,
To calm your soul, your doubts allay,
So reservations may take flight?
I know it's true you cannot stay
But what we could do... If I may?
Unveil this body to your sight...
Are there words that I could say?
We'd fly full-force into the fray
To drown among the sheets so white --
I know it's true you cannot stay.
Yet dearest, I would have you lay
Beside me... If I shape them right,
Are there words that I could say?
I know it's true; you cannot stay.
*****
Roshani T. Anandappa & M.A. Mohanraj
September 25, 1997