Humanist Voices in Verse: “Interregnum and Coronation”

INTERREGNUM AND CORONATION, a villanelle* by Neil Doherty

The villanelle has a strict rhyme scheme and the first and third lines are repeated several times over six short stanzas. The formal nature of this type of poem stands in contrast to the confusion of the times and the erratics of the subject—but maybe we need a little structure and repetition to brace ourselves for the coming years. By happy chance the form is also known as the villanesque.

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1. INTERREGNUM

November 9, 2016 — January 20, 2017

Do all the normal rules apply,
why would I set my cap in haste
to those who bully, brag and lie?

What license do the boorish buy,
when their ilk are quite disgraced,
do all the normal rules apply?

With baser passions stirred awry,
can we abjure when we are faced
with those who bully, brag and lie?

When rawness is the common cry,
should reason be with whim replaced,
do all the normal rules apply?

Oh nervy times are bye and bye
when highest stewardship is graced
by those who bully, brag and lie?

So well may we be wrought and wry,
when convenance is laid to waste,
when none of normal rules apply
to those who bully, brag and lie.

 

2. CORONATION

January 20, 2017

Will each of us now remonstrate ^[i]
against this scratching on the wall,
or must we stay our fears and wait?

These promised lesions to the state,
this fountain of unfiltered gall—
will each of us now remonstrate?

And can the organs of the state
withstand what holds us now in thrall,
or must we stay our fears and wait?

If wanting was the fourth estate
to dash this dreary trumpet call,
can each of us now remonstrate?

Or is this noise and idle prate,
just barren baleful bluster all?
So we must stay our fears and wait.

This harsh uncertainty of late—
oh, can we tap our wherewithal
and each of us now remonstrate,
or must we stay our fears and wait?

 

^{[i] The British pronunciation is remonstrate}