Reflections, Villanelle Options

[Larry]

Reflections

When youth was just a blush upon my cheek
and life’s untrodden path a mystery
there were no memories for me to seek.

An orphaned child, my future looked so bleak;
I wondered what was happening to me
when youth was just a blush upon my cheek.

My siblings were too traumatized and meek
for ages ranged from six to nearly three.
There were no memories for me to seek

until the years had passed. No longer weak
as Viet Nam became a travesty
when youth was just a blush upon my cheek.

Sickened by death, I soon became a freak
within a drug infused society…
there were no memories for me to seek.

Now time’s grey hand has withered my physique
and wistful thoughts of old a truancy
when youth was just a blush upon my cheek.
There are no memories for me to seek.



From the Villanelle section in Karnak. Come by and write something.

[JustDaniel]

This speaks to me on many levels, Larry.

In fact if I were to take your two repeated lines, I could likely write my own personal story. Honestly, it's in fact very eerie to me.

Thank you for sharing this... and of course it's an excellent villanelle.

deLighting in your writing, Daniel

[Merlin]

Hello Larry,

I echo Daniel's praise except for the fact that my own military experience was brief, without the trauma that V N left behind. I was about 20 when a friend and I visited Ft Sam Houston, the hospital where young men our age lay in a variety of conditions.

You've brought the villanelle full circle. While it's not a requirement, it is an added bonus.

Well done.

Merlin

[Luce]

This villanelle is very moving because it is very personal. It's honest and healing.

Luce

[Larry]

Hi Daniel, Merlin & Luce,

Glad you all stopped by for a read. Daniel, I took your suggestion to heart and brought this one over to try and increase participation in Karnak. I'm glad that it speaks to you but a bit saddened that you have experienced similar incidences in your life whereby you might utilize the repeated lines for your own autobiographical villanelle.

Merlin, thanks for the thumbs-up on the form. Your experience at Ft. Sam Houston must have been shocking as was Nam to me. Raised in a sheltered environment, I was not exposed to the more despicable aspects of humanity so even though I was a "gung-ho" Marine on the outside, I was sickened to the soul on the inside. Still am!

Luce, thanks for the read and comments. It was very personal but it was also cathartic in a way. One of the reasons I write.

Thank you all and Happy New Year,

Larry