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Minnesota, United States
As I walk along in life, my muses dance with reflection inspiring me to release the thoughts and emotions of my pondering mind through poetry.

Prompt Poetry & Promotion page for The River

*plus the archive of my older poetry

Monday, March 7, 2011

Ancient Stones ~villanelle

Ancient Stones

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
from the French

posted for One Shot Wednesday week 36 at One Stop Poetry~ come & join the fun!

21 comments:

Claudia said...

we tend to ignore what nature is telling us..i like that you've woven the gypsy into your villanelle river

Timoteo said...

I find this quite enchanting...and such wisdom.

Laura said...

Beautiful River, there is so much we have forgotten, because we do not take the time to look and listen.

Brian Miller said...

nice. i wish i could hear the tales of the stones...in that i envy the gypsy...but every once in a while i hear the echoes....great one shot...

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous. I love the concept of speaking stones River, and the repetition of the vilanelle, strength of the refrains just makew this a magical piece.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, as always, River.

I really keyed in on the stanzd starting with "Only a few can hear stones speak clearly..." We move so quickly in our world today and with this reminder I will set out to hear the stones. You are always inspirational.

Steve Isaak said...

Good read, impressive on all levels.

dustus said...

"A history if lost is gone in misery / it bears wisdom of times we made / unclear forgotten knowledge told as mystery." Very true. Also like how you have the word history repeat— history repeating proverbially through your poem.

Asobime said...

Beautiful, beautiful.

I have never tried a villanelle.

I wouldn't dare...you do it so well.

Lady Nyo

Hope said...

well done River!
I've never heard of a villanelle!
what a challenge
I know it would be for me

loved it!
thank you

signed...bkm said...

Great villanelle...and this speaks so of where you live...Minnesota all the stones and the mystic magic of the tribes that lived in at area.....the river is beautiful where you live...I have stay there a few years back at a bed & breakfast....being raised in central Minnesota...this write really speaks to me....thank you River...you gave me a trip home...bkm

Charlie Parant said...

Great to have the chance to see this one again, Great Villanelle, if only everyone would listen.

Unknown said...

I enjoyed this immensely; in some ways, it reminded me of Diana Gabaldon Outlander series, where the characters would travel back in time through ancient rocks… i.e. Stonehenge. Again, wonderful piece of writing!

JL Dodge said...

I love this form and you weave a wonderful tale with it !! Great use of your words !

Marshy said...

wonderfully written.....stonehenge comes to my mind too...love that place must see it 5 06 times a year

Bubba said...

I like to pick up ancient stones and listen to their stories (or try, anyway).

That river picture turned 90 degrees clockwise really caught my eye.

Another nice write, River!

Soraya said...

"Stones tell the truths we lost in memory"
What a beautiful words, I enjoyed it. I have always thought that God writes in nature for us and we never read His messages.
I´m honored to read your poem. Thanks for share River.

Soraya said...

"Stones tell the truths we lost in memory"
What a beautiful words, I enjoyed it. I have always thought that God writes in nature for us and we never read His messages.
I´m honored to read your poem. Thanks for share River.

Kavita said...

We sometimes get so absorbed in our daily trivialities, that we forget to pause and listen to what those stones have to tell us.. Bless the gypsies for being there to tell us these stories..
Enjoyed this lovely ride along memory's lanes, River.. it felt like flowing along a giggling stream.. lovely!

Shashidhar Sharma said...

Dear River

Oh Yes, the whole of universe as its said in Buddhism is in one speck of dust.. and your this verse re-iterates it so well.. there are so much of a story there, if only we can look at it deeply.
Thanks for sharing...

ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/03/whispers-memories-from-living.html
At Twitter @VerseEveryDay

Anonymous said...

I remember how difficult writing a villanelle was for me. Yours comes out as if you're speaking, comfortably and relaxed, to and old friend. Perfect expression of a gift some will never experience.

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