Grace Moves Me, I Step Aside (Villanelle)

Meeting the attack with spiritual aikido.

Grace moves me, I step aside
when force fills your blazing fist -
met with love, I can abide.

In sanctuary, I hide
from swords meant to slash each wrist -
grace moves me, I step aside.

Your words burn with hate and pride.
I falter, cannot resist -
met with love, I can abide.

On waves of sadness, I ride;
now ashore in blinding mist,
grace moves me, I step aside.

You burn up the tears I've cried
in desert heat, heart dismissed.
Met with love, I can abide.

Shadows gather in my midst,
on this light try to subsist.
Grace moves me, I step aside;
met with love, I can abide.

Author's Note

Another experiment with the Villanelle form, capturing what I am trying to practice in daily life- meeting each conflict with love, letting grace move me out of danger, even when the attack is fierce.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Villanelle is one of my least favorite forms, becuz I'm not a fan of repeating lines. Many times a poet will repeat lines just becuz the form says so. But in your poem here, the repetition does sound much more natural & like it belongs in your message, furthering your message, rather than just being a parrot type thing. Now for your message . . . I love it. What this sounds like to me is "turn the other cheek" which is my only way to deal with people who come at me with anger or meanness. I'm not trying to employ grace, so much as I just can't find the words to match an assault, so I just go away. I love the way you describe this process in detail . . . everything comes across as being very originally-stated.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much for your in depth review! I agree- the lines repeating can be like a meaningless echo- I feel grateful that lines came to me that capture the sense of stepping aside from an assault- I studied this physically in martial arts, but it's different when it's a verbal, spiritual or emotional assault- in those situations I do rely on something greater than me- whether it be my higher self or God- grace does move me out of the way if I'm open to it. But you're right- the intention to turn the other cheek is at play, and your response resonates with me. Thank you for your positive comments both on the form and the message- it means a lot to me to find people with the same essential intention not to strike back.

[Mari R-J]

This is beautiful again great rhythm and cadence. You pick the right words. The message itself is beautiful and so intimate.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you- I don't often try forms with rhyme because they take thought and I prefer to write from vision and heart rather than using the rational mind. But this was fun trying. Thanks for reading and reviewing it.

[Bacchus]

meeting conflict with love...
when grace hits. abiding in that.
the wrist part makes me think of fighting
an addiction of self harm... and identifying with
the person as a person... grace wins here.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you for your positive review- these days it is harder to practice, but I still hold the intention to activate love in the midst of conflict. Yes, the wrist part is the assault of despair that leads to self-harm- sometimes grace moves us away from hurting ourselves when there is an inner attack. My husband told me of a time when he was young that he had a blade to his wrist, and he physically felt a spiritual intervention in preventing him from completing the act. He had started, and still has the scar, but his hand was held back from completing a lethal slice. Grace does win, sometimes even when we aren't aware that it's there. Thank you for your reflections and review.

[Lyn Anderson]

A noble pursuit, and a lovely representation of such.

[Marianne Rose]

Thanks for your encouraging review!

[Sammi]

Hi Marianne Rose I found your name on the top reviewers page and came to read some of your poetry and how pleased I am I did, this one is amazing to read in its style I never read before but it looks hard to accomplish even though you make it look easy with how it is so smooth with perfect rhymes and great imagery in emotion and passionate expressions, you must be a really confident believer in your faith and I adore how you use the met with love, I can abide line to repeat your feelings so beautifully, I think you are a very talented poet who really knows her art, one to follow in example and I enjoyed sharing it -- thank you! :)

HUGGS!
Sammi

[Marianne Rose]

Well, thank you, Sammi, and hugs back to you! Until I joined this site in late June, my writings remained largely in journals, random scraps of paper, and even the back of matchbook covers and napkins. I am just learning about the forms of poetry, having always been a writer that streams out the images and words without thought for rhyme and form. But this site has opened a whole new world to me, and when I found this form, it resonated with me. This is only one of two of my poems written in this form- I wouldn't say it's extremely difficult, but I definitely had to think inside the form to write it- that is, I had to fence my stream of consciousness for a while - once I did that, it wasn't as difficult. I really don't like to work a poem too much, editing and revising- always afraid I'll lose the essence of the original inspiration. Your review is most kind, especially about the rhyming and imagery. And yes, at the core of me is a deep faith- though it has been tested again and again! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I'll stop by and read some of your work . . .💜

[Sammi]

I love meeting you and fining your poetry Marianne Rose -- thank you! :)

[. serah .]

~ the words that come to my mind upon reading this post are 'resilience' and 'fortitude'... ~ it takes a rare amount of both to not drop to the level of someone who is trying to provoke a conflict... ~ personally, i am still a work-in-progress... ~ i haven't mastered the art of stepping away but i'm workin' on it...

[Marianne Rose]

Me too! Just when you master one conflict, a more challenging one arises to test the intention and skill in stepping away. Thanks for reading this and for your reflections on the process and what it takes . . .

[Richard🖌]

Goodness, Marianne!
Wonderfully composed and presented in easy-flowing seven-counts for our reading pleasure and appeal, this is a most fetching Villanelle, spot-on in every way this form should be.
Image and emotion laden, you've made this form look (almost) too easy; though, we both know the effort it took to make it this way. I know that some forms fit my nature more harmonious than others, as it would seem the Villanelle does yours.
Your message chimes through straight and clear, warding-off and defending against all onslaughts against your glowing, determined spirit, and you do it all by the grace of your unconquerable faith, it would appear … and, by this splendid Villanelle, of course! : )
Simply beautifully done, Dear Lady-Poet.
As a martial artist, I love the thought of "spiritual Aikido".

Thank you sincerely for including my input with your efforts; I am, indeed, honored …
hugs to you! ⁓ Richard


100/100

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It was my second try- as the original did not have the "b" lines rhyming until I learned with "Love Embarks" how to correct the form. But I felt good about being able to retain the meaning as I changed those lines. You know, V1L2 always bothered me, lacking what I was trying to get across. Your suggestion about "sweep aside" didn't quite work for capturing the simple "step aside"- so easy to do if one knows how, so instead I looked again at the line in V1 that follows . . . And feel better about what it conveys in its rewrite. I just remember when I studied martial arts practicing this almost invisible movement, one step and a shift in body stance, and the other's blows hit air. Spiritually, it takes such little effort when grace powers the movement- a small choice here, a short word there, and the blows are avoided. All in our intent and openness to let spiritual intuition and love guide our responses. Anyway, off I go again rambling. In any event, it gives me great satisfaction to have your approval and understanding of this poem. My heartfelt gratitude for your continued mentoring in this new exploration!

[Richard🖌]

Most humbly and graciously ⁓ I bow!

[Marianne Rose]

I'll have to sit with the rewritten line a little more, I'm not sure I like so much alliteration in such a short line.

[Richard🖌]

It's perfect … "don't fix what ain't broken" … LOL!

[Marianne Rose]

Okay . . . I'll trust you on that. Thanks again.

[Richard🖌]

"Thumbs-up!

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful, worthwhile and good poetry Marianne.
"Standing in the midst of war,
Shadows gather 'round my light
Grace moves me, I step aside
Met with love, I can abide."
The above lines. Outstanding ending. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much, my friend, for your recognition and praise- I'm glad the ending worked- a difficult one to bring to a close! I only hope to contribute in some small way to elevating our behavior and consciousness to the loving beings we were meant to be. Thank you again for reading and for your most encouraging review.

[Coyote Poetry]

It did and you are welcome Marianne.

[Inject Positivity]

Isn't it amazing that we have the most powerful weapon in our side that can conquer every obstacle? Love and grace are two of the most amazing character traits a man can have... So uplifting the way you wrote it... Whenever I feel like I'm in pressure of darkness and hardship, grace has been the weapon that helps me to come out of such situations... It's an amazing way to find peace with life... Love can heal every wound, it can run a dying person...

You are keeping on inspiring us with your powerful words... With the form you have perfectly presented the concept of your poem... Hats off to you frnd...

Sincerely
Dhiman

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you dear friend, yes, grace and love are so powerful, literally life-saving gifts to us that we can't really take credit for ourselves- except in being open to receive and embody them. This poem has begun to help me rise above- remembering who I really am rather than depending on mankind's view or man made ways to stay safe and grateful in this world which are poor substitutes for the real thing. Once again, your name rings true- you are such a positive appreciated presence in my life. Thank you for your kind words and affirmations of the messages that are coming through my pen these days.

[Inject Positivity]

That's why we met isn't it? It's a part of a greater plan... I really love what you said, human world in modern times mostly depending on material objects which only brings temporary pleasures and ultimate frustration... It's about believing ourselves and moving with the thought that we have a greater purpose here... It feels me with joy to know that you think the same way about me the way I do about you... I have rejected the word negativity from world... It has wasted so many years of my life... Thank you for your touching words...

[Celie Rose]

I really liked reading your poem. The phrase,"Met with love, I can abide." Says it all. No matter what love covers all. Beautifully expressed and well written.Great Job!

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you! Your reviews are filled with understanding and compassion. I appreciate finding others who share this knowing about love. I'm glad you enjoyed reading this. Thank you for your complements and encouragement.