The White Lady Eowyn

I wrote this poem in the form of a villanelle. Villanelles have 19 lines of 10 syllables. The first and third lines are repeated throughout the poem, and come together to be the last two lines (you'll see what I mean below! LOL). Finally, there are only two rhyme sounds. Sound maddening to write? It is! The only famous villanelle is Dylan Thomas' "Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night."

With clear grey eyes and a face just as pale
Rode one who would welcome death on the field-
The White Lady Eowyn clad in mail.

"I beg thee!" she had wept to no avail,
For he had only looked down where she kneeled
With clear grey eyes and a face just as pale.

Taking armor for gown and helm for veil,
She hid Merry with the cloak that concealed
The White Lady Eowyn clad in mail.

In facing the Witch-King, all men would fail,
But the Lady of Rohan raised her shield
With clear grey eyes and a face just as pale.

All in the battle heard the creature's wail,
For she thrust the sword that no man could wield,
The White Lady Eowyn clad in mail.

She wished to die, and her body was frail,
But there came the one she loved, and he healed,
With clear grey eyes and a face just as pale,
The White Lady Eowyn clad in mail.

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