Villanelle #1

On the terrace, thinking of childhood days,

You look happy, for once have no shakers

Smiling, as sunbeams play across your face

Rollers rising from ankles to their waists,

Hear distant squealing in blue white breakers

See our children dancing in the green bay

 Shafts of bright light through umbrella slats race

Our moment real, we forget the fakers

Smiling as sunbeams play across your face

A brown dog that looks like our long lost Grace

Runs into the surf with our merrymakers

See, our children, dancing in the green bay

Your eyes gleaming as you say “Lovely day.”

“Yes.” I reply, thinking of time takers,

Smiling, as sunbeams play across your face

Clouds drift across, sunlight fading away

Smells of coffee and almond cake bakers

See our children, dancing in the green bay,

Smiling, as sunbeams play across your face

Harry Rogers: In The Hut, 4^th July 2016

 I wrote this poem after a free writing exercise during week five of the creative writing course sessions I attended in 2016 at  Aberystwyth University.  I used the writing prompt “In the distance.” from a selection in the handout.  I also chose green bay from the Dylan Thomas poem Do Not Go Gentle. The following is verbatim what I wrote in that session:-

In the distance, dancing in the green bay, the children squeal with pleasure as the rollers rise from their ankles to their waists.  The smell of lemon tort and coffee drift across the terrace as we reminisce about those childhood days.  For once you look happy as the sunbeams play across your face through the slats of the umbrella. A dog that looks just like our long lost friend runs into the surf with the kids and I see a hint of recognition in your eyes followed by a slight frown as you realise it cannot be him.

“This is a lovely day.” you say.

“Yes.” I answer, wistfully.