To whom does the lone, left-behind loon call?
His companions made for sun past the lake -
Upon empty shores does his wraith song fall.
*
Slow are my steps under morning-mist's pall,
Wondering, looking to where the trees break,
To whom does the lone, left-behind loon call?
*
Colors have departed from sky, trees, all,
as I trail, watch, listen, in Autumn's wake;
Upon empty shores does his wraith song fall.
*
I think of grandfather, once standing tall -
Did e'er he ponder, with similar ache,
To whom does the lone, left-behind loon call?
*
How hollow this numbing, echoing sprawl;
Of what would grandfather, this sad scene make?
Upon empty shores does his wraith song fall.
*
A fading cry, a forgotten son's squall
Does here, the place of all mysteries, take:
To whom does the lone, left-behind loon call?
Upon empty shores does his wraith song fall.
About the Creator
Gabriel Huizenga
Twas for love of words that I first joined this site:
Poetry, especially, and dear short stories too;
For to live one's best is to read, and to write!
So find me in words here, and I'll find you 💙
Thanks for stopping by! :)
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Comments (6)
Yep. The others are right. A winner if ever I've read one. Beautiful sad exploration of grief. Well done Gabriel
This is a winner right here, calling it
The imagery and mood are well captured. Great job with this. 👏👏👏
It's challenging to get a villanelle to flow well and you've managed to do that. The language is powerful and the mood is palpable. The parallels between the grandfather, son, and loon are just lovely. "...a forgotten son's squall..." is heartwrenching. Great job.
What a pensive villanelle, though tinged with a slight sadness and longing. I adore it. Questions in villanelles seem to pack a lot of punch; this one is no exception. What a pleasure to read!
I believe, I just read the winner. This villanelle simply aches with beauty, Gabriel. Simply wonderful!