Ancient stones speak tongues of history
a truth of time buried beneath our fears
forgotten knowledge told as mystery.
Only a few can hear stones speak clearly
bestowed this dying gift they walk in tears
ancient stones speak tongues of history.
A history if lost is gone in misery
it bears wisdom of times we made unclear
forgotten knowledge told as mystery.
Alone among the hills lives a gypsy
she hears stones tell ancient stories when near
ancient stones speak tongues of history.
One must believe and listen gingerly
in hopes to hear an ancient stone appear
forgotten knowledge told as mystery.
Stones tell the truths we lost in memory
the day we ran like fools from nature’s sphere
ancient stones speak tongues of history
forgotten knowledge told as mystery.
©River 3/11
villanelle rules: 19 lines, 2 repeating rhymes and 2 refrains, 5 tercets and 1 quatrain, A1 b A2 / a b
A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 A2.- capitals refrain lower case rhymes.
1 and 3 line of 1st tercet repeated alternately in the last lines of the succeeding stanzas; then in the final stanza, the refrain serves as the poem's two concluding lines
