Carried Forward (Villanelle)
On the Persistence of the Past
The years go forward, but the past remains,
A burden that settles deeper as we age.
Time offers distance, not release from chains.
We think that healing comes with autumn rains,
That grief will soften, anger leave the stage.
The years go forward, but the past remains.
Each decade adds its sediment of pains,
And what we bury refuses its cage.
Time offers distance, not release from chains.
The face that haunts me neither grows nor wanes,
Unchanging in its fury or its rage.
The years go forward, but the past remains.
I've crossed the country, altered my terrains,
Yet carry still that unforgotten page.
Time offers distance, not release from chains.
What folly makes us think our loss sustains
No power once we've turned another age?
The years go forward, but the past remains,
Time offers distance, not release from chains.
About the Creator
Tim Carmichael
Tim is an Appalachian poet and cookbook author. He writes about rural life, family, and the places he grew up around. His poetry and essays have appeared in Bloodroot and Coal Dust, his latest book.
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Comments (4)
Great repeating lines, the year…remains one
Man this is good. It's hard to maintain a smooth flow when you're held to the strict form of a poem like a villanelle and you handle it. It doesn't feel forced. Your poem flows beautifully. The use of repetition is also never easy. Too much and it becomes annoying, too little, and you lose emphasis. You balance it really well. The repetition hammers those lines into memory and increases their power. Really well done. I enjoyed reading it!
very nice
This is spectacular! I did something with the form in this: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/villagelle%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">