Patriarch's villanelle
for paps
Life is full of arrows and slings.
I learned to walk wounded, wet eyes towards the sun.
He said: only cry at beautiful things.
*
He is one subject to five children kings.
From his waning eye’s view, they’ve just begun –
if he could just shield them from life’s arrows and slings.
*
For my sixteenth birthday, I asked him to bring
me to music. He picked Mozart. When it was done,
I asked: why do you cry at this beautiful thing?
*
I said: tears for woodwinds and strings?
He nodded, ignoring my shun.
He said: life is full of arrows and slings,
*
but tears are blessings,
sacred as your poet’s tongue.
He said: sanctify the beautiful things.
*
When he wanes into black-sky starlight, I will sing
Mozart arias. As for tears, I promise him none.
Life is full of arrows and slings,
but I only cry at beautiful things.
About the Creator
Dane BH
By day, I'm a cog in the nonprofit machine, and poet. By night, I'm a creature of the internet. My soul is a grumpy cat who'd rather be sleeping.
Top Story count: 21
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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Comments (8)
Well done! Congrats on TS
You communicated a great deal in few words. Powerful piece!
This is gorgeous. Subscribing for sure! Congratulations on top story❤
This is different, really beautiful. I still have no idea how to write a Vill whatsit. So I guess Vocal guys are ok with different ways of writing it. Very interesting, Congrats on your take.
Congratulations on Top Story! This was an intriguing variation on the villanelle form.
This was beautiful. I've subscribed now and well done on Top Story!
❤️
This is so full of poignancy, very good indeed.