Harvard Villanelle

The Harvard moon expands the Charles River.
From the bridge to the Business School,
I have witnessed the enchanting flights of lovers

flutter down the avenue at midnight. Two lovers whisper
of winter melon fields. In the fields, no one is cruel.
The Harvard moon expands the Charles River.

It watches over Harvard Square without anger,
spotlights churches, firehouses, playgrounds with a cool
indigo light. I have witnessed the enchanting flights of lovers

who embrace each other above the shimmering water,
above that microcosmic, oceanic pool.
The Harvard moon expands the Charles River,

as if to promise brighter dawns, lighter
times, sans violence, sans war, sans hateful fools
who have failed to witness the enchanting flights of lovers

are about ourselves, our being alive together
in the same galaxy. Our mutual wonder is the only rule.
The Harvard moon expands the Charles River.
I have witnessed the enchanting flights of lovers.

(C)2004, Roger Pao

A Warrior's Villanelle

Warriors tell a cautionary tale,
and only fools deny this simple fact:
even when a warrior’s efforts fail,

returning with a visage pained and pale,
such carnage to the mind remains intact,
as warriors tell their cautionary tale.

All too often they will not prevail,
as politicians argue how to act
even when a warrior’s efforts fail.

The stink of blood they never may inhale,
but soon enough a scapegoat will be sacked,
for warriors tell a cautionary tale.

Well told, it makes the listener moan and wail,
knowing that their courage he has lacked,
even when a warrior’s efforts fail.

War is hell no matter what the scale,
with Death the only winner in this pact:
even when a warrior’s efforts fail,
warriors tell a cautionary tale.


(C)2004, Robert Godwin

at the bump of story

at the bump of story and rawest fact
so many angles to break up the light
not one of you can handle it with tact

the mechanism is what we all had lacked
but chances we will win still remain slight
at the bump of story and rawest fact

you thought you won but found you had been sacked
and were thrown out quite helpless in the night
not one of you can handle it with tact

the crisis peaks right when you are attack
edit's very hard to struggle through the blight
at the bump of story and rawest fact

replace the name and still the thing is cracked
what once was black cannot just be turned white
not one of you can handle it with tact

you stood up once and you were swiftly smacked
it does not matter that you had the right
at the bump of story and rawest fact
not one of you can handle it with tact

(C)2008, Fragano Ledgister