'Villa Nil' by Ray M is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Villa Nil’ by Ray M. ‘Villa Nil’ marks the end of another football season, and is also – note the title - a villanelle, a 19-line poetic form consisting of five three-line verses (tercets), followed by four concluding lines (a quatrain), with refrains and repeating lines. The most well-known villanelle is probably ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ by Dylan Thomas. Ray has been a regular visitor to Write Out Loud over the years, and in his concise reply to our usual questions, reveals that he has appeared on the same bills as poetry legends John Cooper Clarke and Attila the Stockbroker:
“I've liked poetry a long time, mostly of the Dylan/Cohen variety. When my father died about 10 years ago I wrote a very long poem and read it at his funeral. It was a humanist funeral and the celebrant asked me if I was a professional writer. So I thought that maybe it was worth persevering with.
“I then got into poetry performance for a couple of years, supported John Cooper Clarke, Attila the Stochbroker. Then the local poetry movers and shakers decided to make a CD which I contributed to. However, I didn't like the sound of my voice, so I stopped doing it. Now I just write and get published in magazines occasionally, though I do keep meaning to visit the local open mic, if only as a spectator.
“My favourite poem is A Disused Shed in County Wexford by Derek Mahon. It's rich, it has layers.”
VILLA NIL
by Ray M
Despair hurts a little, but hope can kill,
don’t dream of dodging the drop after all.
Another game ends and it’s Villa nil.
The wife says don’t watch, they’re making you ill,
just twenty-two fellows chasing a ball.
Despair hurts a little, but hope can kill.
It isn’t a bit like watching Brazil -
this season Burton, the next year Walsall?
Another game ends and it’s Villa nil.
Up the Holte End is like top of a hill.
We’re contemplating how far we might fall.
Despair hurts a little, but hope can kill.
If we only possessed some pace or skill,
or if our striker was seven feet tall.
Another game ends and it’s Villa nil.
We’ve got a fantastic stadium, still,
but cannot construct a defensive wall.
Despair hurts a little, but hope can kill.
Another game ends and it’s Villa nil.
Jeff Dawson
Sat 27th May 2017 06:03
Excellent Ray! As a Bolton supporter, I know how you feel, only been to Villa Park once, to see us draw, it is a fine stadium, worthy of better, but like us and a lot of other fine clubs before, nothing is guaranteed and, as someone who has seen BWFC up and down the league, I hope the same fate doesn't affect you. Really enjoyed your poem, see you next season, Jeffarama! ?