The Story We Know.

a poem by Martha Collins

1. Describe a villanelle by explicating the stanza pattern and the rhyme scheme of this poem. How many different end rhymes are in the poem? How many times is each sound repeated? Which words are repeated exactly at the ends of lines, in what pattern? How does the last stanza use the rhyming words? Why is this appropriate at the end of the poem?
There are 2 different end rhymes in the poem that follow the rhyme scheme of aba, aba, aba, aba, aba, abaa. The words repeated at the ends of lines are, Hello, fine, know, No, wine, slow, nine, below, line, snow, pine, oh, sign. The a rhyme is used 13 times and the b rhyme used 6. The word “Hello” ends lines 1, 6, and 12. The word “know” ends line 3, 9, 15. There are also several rhyming words within lines such as same/name, tomorrow/No, Times/nine, hold/cold. Both know and Hello are used in the final two lines to reiterate the poem’s meaning.
2. Isolating the b rhymes (middle line of each tercet) gives of this list: fine, wine, nine, pine, sign. What is the significance of each of these words to the whole poem?
“Fine,” is a response to “How are you?”, a polite greeting like that you would give an acquaintance. “Wine,” is associated with jovial feelings, much like the beginning of a relationship. A “Line” is something flattering or charming one uses to attract another. “Pine” may also mean a nostalgic desire or grief, such as the feelings one may have soon after a relationship ends. “Cold white sign” is the final reality to the fate of the couple’s relationship.
3. Incremental repetition tends to augment meaning and accumulate significance. What variations in meaning are present in the following groups of repetitions and what is their effect?
Line 1: same. Hello,
Line 6: same, Hello,
Line 12: same Hello.
Line 18: end. Hello,The first hello is simply a way to make acquaintance. The second, is another way to begin a relationship, over lunch. The third signifies that all relationships begin the same, with Hello. The fourth points out that all relationships begin and end the same, “Hello, Good-bye”.

Line 3: Good-bye at the end.
Line 9: Good-bye. In the end
Line 15: Good-bye is the end
Line 19: Good-bye is the only

The first line signifies what we say at the end of making an acquaintance. The second, establishes that in a relationship we have established the ritual of good-bye. The third, reiterates the idea, with a forlorn tone. The fourth really stressed that “good-bye is the only” story.

Line 3: every story we know
Line 9: this is a story we know
Line 15: every story we know
Line 19: We know, we know.

The idea that every story we know is the same at the beginning and end is introduced in line 3. The second reiterates and adds that we do not bother with the details. The third states that we really know that every relationship ends with goodbye because it is implied that the speaker has experienced it in this relationship. The last signifies a sense of sadness and defeat, repeating “We know, we know.”