As One They Will Be Forever

A Villanelle for 'The Grave Tree' part four

Living death they root together
A forgotten grave and a tree
As one they will be forever

Planted in time they remember
Roots and bone honed in memory
Living death they root together

A stone watches their endeavour
A human life and seed set free
As one they will be forever

Frozen tears of storms will weather
Soil etched for a century
Living death they root together

A bond that time tries to sever
Stone, root and the flesh dead can't see
As one they will be forever

Standing tall the tree will never
Disturb the earth engraved to be
Living death they root together
As one they will be forever

2022

Author's Note

I went with 8 syllables for this Villanelle. Condensing it made it more challenging and I liked the rhythm.

Reviews

[Cherrie]

You show the circle of life. Very nicely done.

[William Michael Reeves]

Villanelle is like a circle. Finding those two lines that are going to circle around. Glad you brought my attention to this. Now that I have a better understanding of meter I wasn't too far off from having perfect trochaic meter. If your seasoned ear reads something I wrote that's a little off let me know. Thanks Cherrie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Time gets beaten...about time.
I like the part about the stone watching....they do watch...they never react but they do watch.
j.

[William Michael Reeves]

Sentinels of life and death. Antiques that only the garden can collect. As usual you get me thinking...thanks!

[Einstein Noodle]

ah! Beautiful .. made for the Villanelle and from my lack of experience eyes .. looks to hold true to the form .. this literally waltzes through the intimacies (there is that word again:) .. i loved the flow of this Villanelle ... great job .. on to the next one right?! What will it be i wonder :)))))))
E.

[William Michael Reeves]

You'll just have to wait....but not long. I'm fairly determined to completely respond to Jay G's review of the first one in a timely fashion. Thanks.

[Einstein Noodle]

may the faeries not cross you path with there mischief sir!

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

I like the rhythm to!
My favorite line is frozen tears of storm will weather!
Well penned!

[William Michael Reeves]

Thank you, thank you very much!

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

My pleasure!