You Did Not Cross My Path of Urgent Things
I missed my chance
I need to know the things I know you knew
But you did not cross my path of urgent things.
I missed my chance to ask those things of you.
*****
I do not know another person who
could assuage the savage itch not knowing brings.
I need to know the things I know you knew -
*****
to clutch forgotten whispers ere they flew
because I valued texts and tones and rings,
I missed my chance to ask those things of you.
*****
There are so many musts that I must do
now shy, unanswered questions start to sting
I need to know the things I know you knew,
*****
I yearn to bring them back to me anew
but the winter in my mind froze its spring.
I missed my chance to ask those things of you.
*****
Now death's devoted blade has run you through
so no more will I hear your wisdom sing.
I need to know the things I know you knew.
I missed my chance to ask those things of you.
**************************************************************
I must thank Mike Singleton for his help on insuring the strict villanelle form was followed. His article (and video!) on writing a villanelle is a great resource for anyone interested in this challenging, wonderful form. Check it out below!
About the Creator
John R. Godwin
Sifting daily through the clutter of my mind trying to create something beautiful.
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More stories from John R. Godwin and writers in Poets and other communities.
Comments (16)
The regret is bittersweet and the very thing someone who is past their prime understands all too well. This was a lovely, yet haunting poem.
Wonderful work, John; congratulations on your top story and villanelle win!👏👏
Congratulations… well deserved placing!👏 This is so emotive & filled with longing which can’t be resolved.
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Beautiful, John.
Your use of repetition heightens the regret in a way that lingers long after the final line.
Mike is a great teacher here on V. Beautiful sad villanelle. well executed. Congrats.
Nice.
Amazing
Love this. I may have bent the rules a little in the metre of my latest villanelle: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/canonized%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">
amazing!~
I have made a recommendation of your story in this week's Raise Your Voice here https://shopping-feedback.today/resources/raise-your-voice-thread-12-04-2025%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">
Excellent work for the challenge
While the chance to ask those specific questions is gone, remember that the wisdom and love you did share will always be a part of you.
You captured the weight of unanswered questions so powerfully. Absolutely moving.
Wow. I really am blown away by this. The villanelle is such a perfect form for this! That gnawing thought, the inability to answer questions, the certainty that there were answers...all of it is so beautifully written here. I read it twice because I realized at the end of my first read-through that this was about losing a parent and never asking them both practical and emotional questions before they died. It's the feeling that you missed out, stacked your priorities wrong, and regret not having the conversations that would have filled your life more fully. Ugh. That is so heart-wrenching. I truly adore this piece, John. I can't think of a way to give you constructive feedback, though I know you asked for it. I believe this is a winner!