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Paula Walsh submitted this perfect villanelle for Assignment 7. It is so evocative she’s given me permission to share it with you. Try writing one yourself. It beats doing the crossword.
Freshly Mown Grass
I remember the scent of freshly mown grass
When dad mowed the lawn on hot afternoons
And the frosting of sweat on the beer glass.
Dad said at mowing he was top of the class
His pride filled voice boomed round the room
I remember the scent of freshly mown grass.
The beer he shared flowed like liquid brass
It tasted sweet and was finished too soon
And the frosting of sweat on the beer glass.
Those summer days went by far too fast
We grew up, living life to our own tune
I remember the scent of freshly mown grass.
And now the baton to us has passed
To keep up standards clip and prune
And the frosting of sweat on the beer glass.
And to you my father I raise a glass
After mowing my lawn on a hot afternoon
I remember the scent of freshly mown grass
And the frosting of sweat on the beer glass.
Hearts Ease.
My heart still aches yet the pain has eased,
As I gaze at the garden out the back,
The curtains flutter in the warm spring breeze.
Smotes of dust evoke a sneeze,
As I smooth the crease in my mother’s hat,
My heart aches yet the pain has eased.
P’raps she’s a rose in a garden frieze?
I think she’d smile at the thought of that,
The curtains flutter in the warm spring breeze.
A year ago, Dad took HIS leave,
The months have flown, I can’t keep track,
My heart aches yet the pain has eased.
Mum forgot Dad because of her disease,
But her heart remembered; you can’t lose that!
The curtains flutter in the warm spring breeze.
I’ll plant Mum’s namesake: Rosemary,
Pretty ‘hearts ease,’ violet and black,
My heart aches yet the pain has eased,
As the curtains flutter in the warm spring breeze.
Mandy Edwards (c) 2021
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