Sunday, April 17, 2011

Villanelle: "At Camelot's Fall"

The heron that calls softly in the reeds
Disturbed by ripples, of the vanished sword,
Knows nothing of the wounded Arthur's needs.

Then, when slow moving through the meads
The seven queens' dry tears are scored
The heron that calls softly in the reeds,

Makes counter point and sorrow feeds
For the first time, for those of Avalon's board
Know nothing of the wounded Arthur's needs.

Save what immortal fay and Merlin's breeds
Can guess. And are they closer to a human Lord?
Than heron that calls softly in the reeds.

Only one single straining word proceeds
From Arthur, and those who hear not that chord
Know nothing of the wounded Arthur's needs.

That word is "Guinevere", then silence leads,
a gap where scornful romance mutters 'bawd'.
The heron that calls softly in the reeds,
Knows nothing of the wounded Arthur's needs.


Simon BJ

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