Sandra Heska King

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To My Mother: A Villanelle

December 28, 2011 By Sandra Heska King

I held you captive in my sight
while evil fingers burrowed deep, and
I heard you crying in the night.

While you focused on the light
and pumpkin-apple deer stood watch
I held you captive in my sight.

You pulled strings, made magic sleight
with finger-writing in the air, but
I heard you crying in the night.

I gathered words and tried to write
of memories and times gone by
to hold you captive in my sight.

Your body spent, His timing right
and just before the snow fell soft,
I heard you silent in the night.

You transcribed life and fought the fight
then shook and snapped the earthly chains
that held you captive in my sight.
I hear you laughing in the night.

An attempt at a villanelle, my first, in response to a prompt issued by The High Calling and T.S. Poetry Press.

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Filed Under: poetry, stories and reflections, writing

Comments

  1. Candace Calvert says

    December 28, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    Beautiful, heart rending–and uplifting. Love to you, Sandy.

  2. Carol J. Garvin says

    December 28, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    Beautifully said, Sandy!

  3. Sheila Lagrand says

    December 28, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    Oh, Oh, Oh.

    Oh.

    That’s all I have, Sandy. Oh.

  4. S. Etole says

    December 28, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    precious words … precious ending … “I hear you laughing in the night” … oh, my!

  5. Monica Sharman says

    December 28, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    You bring this together so intricately, Sandy. It is beautiful. Tears to laughing—awesome. And this, too:
    “Your body spent, His timing right”
    Much love to you.

  6. Joanne Norton says

    December 28, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Absolutely lovely. One small bit is that when my Mom died last Jan. 30th, and had never been very openly Christian in her words and deeds, but was in her heart, and was getting closer to death, she would wink at my sisters or nieces who were with her [I wasn’t able to be out West at the time] and she would say, “Going to heaven.” And I’m filled with joy when I think of that time to come. You and yours were amazing, caring family.

  7. Lynn Mosher says

    December 28, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Oh…my…gosh! What a beautiful attempt! So poignant, so beautiful.

  8. diana says

    December 28, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    Sandy, Only YOU could write a villanelle that I love – and do it the first time out of the box. This is wonderful, evocative, poignant. Thank you so much.

  9. Lyla Lindquist says

    December 28, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    Love you, Sandy.

  10. Patricia says

    December 28, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    yes. She is smiling at you dear. If I feel proud of you for writing a villanelle… I can only imagine how she must feel. This is beautiful Sandy.

  11. David Rupert says

    December 29, 2011 at 11:04 am

    blessings to you, to your memories, and to your heart

  12. Megan Willome says

    December 29, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Beautiful, beautiful, and again, most beautiful.

    I love how you altered the last line as it went.

  13. Emily M. says

    December 30, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    I ache with you but hope faintly looking toward heaven and the promises we have. Beautiful words woven well.

  14. Cecilia Marie Pulliam says

    January 1, 2012 at 9:46 am

    I love it, Sandy. Beautifully done. Especially the last verse: I heard you laughing in the night. That is how I think of my loved ones who are now gone, passed into Paradise. It brings a great deal of comfort. Still lifting you and your family in prayer.

  15. Sherri Strickland says

    February 4, 2012 at 11:24 am

    I don’t know what a “villanelle” is but I loved your poem! I write poetry as well, so I will look it up. This is lovely about a grief filled event, I write a lot of that.
    Thanks!

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Spent a couple hours this morning with friends fro Spent a couple hours this morning with friends from @spanishriverchurch picking up beach trash. Little bits of colored and clear plastic, big bits of plastic, bottle caps, broken glass, strings, ropes, straws, socks, fast food containers, paper, cigarette holders and filters—and a couple unmentionables. Took extra care around the turtle nests. Last count was about 70 pounds, but there were also some bigger things like an abandoned chair and a plastic tent. And a big piece of burlap or something with a fishing lure and giant hook attached. D found a Macy’s gift card that he almost tossed in his bucket. But we brought it home to check the balance—$24.60! We should be able to turn that into something useful for someone. 😊
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