Poetry Jam has prompted its contributors for the final time this week. As this poetry site is having a rest (only for a while, I would like to believe), the parting prompt is all about TIME… I would like to thank especially Mary, Peggy, Gabriella, Alan, Sumana and Brian who have prompted, encouraged and appraised poetical efforts. I would also like to thank all other participants for the fine offerings every week, and also all readers of the poems who have the time to read, ponder and comment on each other’s poems.
My contribution for this week, below is a villanelle, its cyclic nature perhaps the most suitable for the depiction of cycles, things beginning and ending, and above all the inscrutable passage of time as all things change:
The Time of Change
The time of change is here:
Awake, renew, revise,
I feel the freshness near.
There is no need to fear,
Look up with cloudless eyes
The time of change is here.
Smile brightly then, my dear,
Gone are the endless sighs
I feel the freshness near.
Sweet songs again you'll hear,
The truth defeats all lies –
The time of change is here,
Wipe clean the frown and tear.
As darkness ebbs and dies,
I feel the freshness near…
As we defeat night drear,
Our hope will climb and rise;
The time of change is here
I feel the freshness near.
Yes we have to see with cloudless eyes when change comes and feel the freshness...a wonderful villanelle Nick...
ReplyDeleteExcellent villanelle, Nick. I think the best thing we can do with change is to embrace it and grow with it....rather than fight it. I like 'awake, renew, revise' very much. And, thank you for your participation in Poetry Jam..and for your very nice note above. Your poem share was always a favorite of mine each week. I will still be around the blogosphere. I invite you to visit Poets United on Wednesday for a prompt and especially to visit Poets United Poetry Pantry (Sundays) which is an open link where you can share any poem you have written. I am the host for this Open Link & would welcome you there! Hope we will meet again, Nick. Au revoir, as you said.
ReplyDeleteForgot the link for Poets United - http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/
ReplyDelete(And, oh...keep those recipes coming as well. Smiles.)
Magnificent..!! The poem speaks so many different levels of wisdom :D
ReplyDeleteSweet songs again you'll hear,
The truth defeats all lies –
The time of change is here,
Truth will always be one step ahead of lies :D
Loved your poem!
Have a great week ahead :D
I love this poem, Nicholas. The theme of time flitting past while change is happening suits the form of the poem well and your image above it goes so well with it. Grubs changing with time into chrysalises and butterflies is what we should do with time's passing. Really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'll miss your words! But I guess if I keep checking back here, I'll see them. This villanelle is beautiful! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteLovely villanelle, Nick. Just loved it...
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautifully uplifting villanelle, with a wonderfully positive message. I love it!
ReplyDeleteFreshness near, love that and they way you write to the hope of the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the form really suits the subject matter. Your poem is very uplifting, Nick. I too will miss your poetry but I hope you will still write.
ReplyDeleteNicholas,
ReplyDeleteYou poem addresses the many facets we might encounter of change and the moving on processes. There is a wisdom and a sense which seeks to offer comfort as we embarque on this new journey. Therefore, your villanelle style is perfect, with its rustic words, offering fresh hopes at the end..
Thank you Nicholas for all of your interaction with me via your very supportive comments. I shall miss this most magnificent, weekly encounter with home-shores and much further afield. I have added your Blog to my list and hope that I may follow you through that channel.
Best wishes, Eileen
feel the freshness near… NICE I like to feel the freshness of change
ReplyDeleteChange, when it is accompanied by hope and freshness, is a wonderful and welcome thing. Lovely work, Nicholas.
ReplyDeleteLovely words and the choice of the villanelle - such a challenging, timeless form - the perfect choice to mark a life passage or change. I've enjoyed your poetry, immensely, Nicholas. Thank you for your comments on my work. Hope to see you back "Jamming" in the very near future.
ReplyDeleteLove this poem, Nicholas. The rhyming and recurrent lines really drive home the message of change and time rushing forth.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick -- I had intended to 'darken' Poetry Jam after you had made the rounds of all the people who visited you for the last poetry jam prompt. There were twelve of us. I will let it up one more day -- knowing that you will comment on those (12 from Poetry Jam who took their time to read and comment YOUR poem) who so kindly visited you. Thank you for understanding that even though this is the last prompt for a while we all DO appreciate having our poems commented on just as much as you do!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the reminder, Mary. I have commented and have enjoyed reading the poems. I am juggling too many balls lately and am trying not to drop any, however, I did have a family member in hospital this week and the balls had to wait a while.
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