Villanelle Nr.12 — The Sacred Art Of Losing Well

Your villanelle intrigues him from the start      
he reads it many times - he’s mesmerised -      
it stokes desire to learn this sacred art      
      
and teasing meaning from the poem’s parts      
poetic prowess sensed and recognised      
your villanelle intrigues him from the start.      
       
He sees it’s not a case of being ‘smart’ -      
disaster looms when trust is compromised      
killing desire to learn a sacred art.      
       
And though the final line looks off the chart      
the mastery leaves readers well advised,      
this villanelle that bugs us from the start      
       
for anyone who reads it, sees your heart      
accepting loss with humour’s fine disguise      
stoking desire to learn this sacred art.      
       
And if there is a secret to impart      
humility’s the essence to be prized -      
your villanelle intrigued me from the start      
and stokes desire to learn this sacred art.      
     
     
     
#ElizabethBishop