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RHINA P. ESPAILLAT TRADUCE A PEDRO POITEVIN 



THE VILLAIN'S VILLANELLE 

In every villanelle a villain thrives
who says and says the same thing endlessly,
but when you look away, there are his knives.

You sprint to find the point, but he contrives—
just then!—to make you vanish, one-two-three.
In every villanelle, a villain thrives.

With good advice, like Cyrano, he strives
to “help” (but it’s not love, it’s trickery),
and when you look away, there are his knives.

You rally, though, and faint ambition drives
you to affirm the lie you’ve caused to be:
in every villanelle a villain thrives

who winks into the mirror, who connives
with you, dear reader, courting what you see,
and when you—Look! That way, there are his knives!

But you’re no good at lies: the truth revives,
and you’re left raving without remedy.
In every villanelle a villain thrives.
And when you look away, there are his knives.