Words spoken in haste will burn and soon be gone
Though they bruise and foster indignation
Words we leave unspoken slowly smolder on
~
Tempers flare and words are hurled, like knives we've drawn
Soon forgotten after contemplation
Words spoken in haste will burn and soon be gone
~
Mute, we leave each other wanting, put-upon,
Choking on the smoke of consternation
Words we leave unspoken slowly smolder on
~
Fires that blaze, unchecked, consume what they feed on
With the air of their own conflagration
Words spoken in haste will burn and soon be gone
~
Embers lie in wait to feel the breeze, whereon
They perform the next incineration.
Words we leave unspoken slowly smolder on
~
Woe be to the soul that simply carries on,
Abandoning arduous conversation
Words spoken in haste will burn and soon be gone
Words we leave unspoken slowly smolder on
***
Thanks for reading! If you found something enjoyable or useful in this piece, please leave a heart, maybe an insight, and most importantly, a comment!
Created for the Vocal Villanelle of Regret Challenge:
About the Creator
Dana Crandell
Dad, Stepdad, Grandpa, Husband, lover of Nature and dogs.
Poet, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist and Tech/Internet nerd.
My first published poetry collection: Life, Love & Ludicrosity
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Comments (19)
Very well written, well deserved Top Story, thankyou for sharing xx
Congrats Dana. I really love this knives out episode - well said. Happy holidays.
Better Kate than never lol. Congrats on Top Story sir.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Don’t know how I missed this but I’m glad it came back up! Excellent entry
Dana, I am sorry I am late here, but congratulations on your win!👏 Ah, the burn of hasty words; I can recall saying some really nasty things in my youth that I would never utter now.
Well deserved placing in the challenge.🤩 I especially liked: “Embers lie in wait to feel the breeze, whereon They perform the next incineration. Words we leave unspoken slowly smolder on”✅
Yay! Congratulations Dana
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Great reflection on how words affect us. Congratulations on it’s selection.
Thanks, @Vocal for selecting this as a runner-up!
'Woe be to the soul that simply carries on, Abandoning arduous conversation' This is so true. The true death of love is numbness, not anger, though it often follows it!
Damn, right in the gut, this hit me. I forgot how deft your hand is at writing so elegantly, yet so honest and brutally. This is a stirring and important piece. I am King of Speaking hastily. So, this resonated. I've known of family members, like Jason though, not speak to each other. Rather than dealing with their issues or because they tried to and then not speak to each other for decades. It's sad. Well wrought!
I feel the pain of deep regret, in all the times I've said things in haste. Because of your poem. Words, really are like knives. And you did so good at getting us to understand that, an apology, is always the demand. Because like you said. 'Words we leave unspoken slowly smolder on'. 'Choking on the smoke of consternation. ' this line is very deep, and I've experienced it way too many times. The beat, the rhythm. The message. Fantastic in all it's glory. 🤗❤️🖤👌🏾👏🏾
You have no idea how much this hits home. Certain family members are not speaking all because of words spoken on anger. I’m on the sidelines not knowing what to do. This is extremely well written
There was so much truth to this and it was so profound. Loved your poem!
How are you so good at this though 🤯
d-bud ~ Within a relationship Re; Wonder what he's thinking and wonder what she's thinking that never get said and, as you well said, 'Smolder on'...! j-bud
The whole Villanelle is beautifully done, but these lines stand out for me Embers lie in wait to feel the breeze, whereon They perform the next incineration.