by JOHN BECK
Member since:
August 27, 2008

A Villanelle for Priya (Her birthday is December 27)

December 26, 2012 11:16 PM UTC
views: 0 | 15 people recommend this | comments: 53




A Villanelle for Priya on her Birthday


He saved her once from ultimate despair

There was no tenderness in his hard eyes

He layered hurt on hurt; what did he care?


Why should she mind, he’d had one more affair?

And why should each the other now despise?

He saved her once from ultimate despair


Though scars can heal, the scars are ever there

How does she now distinguish truth from lies?

He layered hurt on hurt; what did he care?


She longs to trust, to love, but does she dare?

Her skepticism hard now to disguise

He saved her once from ultimate despair


For once she loved, in time was forced to bear

Excruciating pain as that love dies

He layered hurt on hurt; what did he care?


Profoundly yearning for a love to share

Experience emerges; doubts arise

He saved her once from ultimate despair

He layered hurt on hurt; what did he care?





Comments: 53

JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Dec 26, 2012, 11:25pm UTC
John, this is such a lovely poem and the Villanelle is one of my absolute favorite forms.

Priya will be so touched by this tender gift.

Priya - Happy Birthday!!!! xoxoxo
JOHN BECK Dec 26, 2012, 11:27pm UTC
Thanks, Michelle.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 2:55am UTC
Thanks Mich
Christina Williams Dec 27, 2012, 12:16am UTC
I really enjoyed reading this poem. I thought it was so sweet and awesome. Happy Birthday Priya :)
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 6:54am UTC
Thank you, Christina. The villanelle form is interesting to work with when repeating lines are wanted.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 2:57am UTC
Thanks Christina ;)
Janet "Jax" B. Dec 27, 2012, 12:36am UTC
Wow John! Such talent....and I bet Priya will love it.


Happy Birthday Priya!
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 6:54am UTC
Thank you, Jax.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 2:57am UTC
Thanks Janet ;)
Priya P. Dec 27, 2012, 1:49am UTC
I don't know what to say John. I'm touched beyond belief. Your poem means so very very much to me. Thank you my friend :)
Priya P. Dec 27, 2012, 1:52am UTC
Featured with grace in the Triple Name Club.

Of course!!!
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 6:55am UTC
Thank you for the feature, Priya. I'm glad you liked it. Happy Birthday!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Dec 29, 2012, 12:24am UTC
What I find remarkable is that John has come to know Priya so well and care for her enough to write this poem and all through the internet! (I think that's true. I don't think you two knew one another previously.)
JOHN BECK Dec 29, 2012, 6:57am UTC
I know Priya only through Gather, Susan. Thank you for your comment.
Barbary Chaapel Dec 30, 2012, 4:00pm UTC
I was thinking along the same lines as Susan.

How perfectly wonderful for you to honor Priya on her birthday with this touching and well written villanelle.

Happy birthday, Priya!
JOHN BECK Dec 30, 2012, 7:20pm UTC
Thank you, Barbary.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 2:59am UTC
Never spoken to each other not even thru email yet he knows me better than most. It is very sweet and remarkable ;)
Irina Dimitric Dec 27, 2012, 6:57am UTC
Beautiful poem, John.

Happy birthday, Priya.
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 7:04am UTC
Thank you, Irina.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 3:01am UTC
Thanks Irina, for the bday wishes ;)
Now this is a birthday gift with a difference. Well done, John.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Priya!
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 8:26am UTC
Thanks, Magi.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 2:59am UTC
Thank you so much Magi ;)
My pleasure.
Chris Brockman Dec 27, 2012, 9:17am UTC
Oh this is well done, John. I've long been an advocate of "pragmatic" poetry, verse that fulfills a particular usefulness or reflects a real situation. To be effective, however, such poetry must still be good poetry. This works perfectly.
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 9:21am UTC
Thank you for your generous comment, Chris.
Alison H. Dec 28, 2012, 1:37am UTC
I second Chris. Well done.
JOHN BECK Dec 28, 2012, 6:37am UTC
Thank you, Alison.
Kathryn Flynn Dec 27, 2012, 11:32am UTC
Happy Birthday, Priya!
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 12:19pm UTC
Thanks for signing in, Kathryn.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 3:04am UTC
Thanks Kathryn
stephen berwaldt Dec 27, 2012, 11:47am UTC
John, you do Priya a great honor. I too, love this form, but you make it sing with your obvious skills. An affair is a hard one to forgive and forget, but true love can conquer anything.

Thanks for posting to Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Now Featured.
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 12:20pm UTC
Thanks, Stephen. I appreciate your comment and the feature.
Pam Brittain Dec 27, 2012, 1:42pm UTC
John, this is beautiful.

Happy Birthday, Priya - I'm so glad you were born.
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 1:50pm UTC
Thanks, Pam.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 3:04am UTC
Such a sweet thing to say Pam. Thank you
Betty S. Dec 27, 2012, 1:55pm UTC
This is great! Happy Birthday Priya
JOHN BECK Dec 27, 2012, 2:03pm UTC
Thanks, Betty.
elizabeth evans Dec 28, 2012, 5:30pm UTC
A beautiful gift for Priya. I do like this form.
JOHN BECK Dec 28, 2012, 6:36pm UTC
Thanks, Bob.
elizabeth evans Dec 28, 2012, 5:31pm UTC
Happy Birthday, Priya!
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 3:06am UTC
Thanks bob !!
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Dec 29, 2012, 12:25am UTC
Appearing at Mindful Poetry.
JOHN BECK Dec 29, 2012, 9:24am UTC
Thanks, Coach.
A. F. Stewart Dec 29, 2012, 7:49am UTC
A fantastic poem and a wonderful birthday gift for Priya.
JOHN BECK Dec 29, 2012, 9:23am UTC
Thank you, Anita.
Angie O. Dec 29, 2012, 2:29pm UTC
Sorry this is late Priya, hope you had a great birthday.

Brilliant write John.
JOHN BECK Dec 29, 2012, 3:40pm UTC
Thank you, Angie.
Priya P. Dec 31, 2012, 3:07am UTC
Thank you so much Angie - look how late I'm responding back! ;)
Joann B. Dec 30, 2012, 5:17pm UTC
A lovely gift.
JOHN BECK Dec 30, 2012, 7:21pm UTC
Thank you, Joann.
Benita K. Dec 31, 2012, 6:43pm UTC
Happy Birthday for your special day Priya. The poem is a treasure John. Wonderful talent shared with us on Gather and nice to come back to after a while away.

Good wishes.
JOHN BECK Dec 31, 2012, 6:56pm UTC
Thank you, Benita.

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