A villanelle is a 19-line poem built on repetition. Two lines recur, weaving their way through the poem and, ideally, deepening each time they appear.

Here is where you can learn more: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/education/glossary/villanelle

What Cannot Be Taught

Offering advice won’t help another know
They must strike out on their path alone
By trusting themselves, their souls will grow

The heart will lead where it must go
In time, the truth will be shown
Offering advice won’t help another know

Though the way proves steep and slow
Each stride becomes a stepping stone they own
By trusting themselves, their souls will grow

There is no truth to bestow
Their heart will choose the way it must go
Offering advice won’t help another know

We come to see how little we control
Each life must be discovered step by step alone
By trusting themselves, their souls will grow

Our task is to learn to let go
And honor the choice that is theirs alone
Offering advice won’t help another know
By trusting themselves, their souls will grow