Like a will ’o the wisp, or a firefly,
his mind raced about from place to place:
from dankest depths to icy outer space.
Say: “Solve this puzzle”; he’d try.
To him, the solution became the prize;
and he’d whip out a pen and write on,
eulogizing the nymph and the faun.
Behind him, in the night, eyes
would twinkle or glitter with guile.
His shooting star was destined to fall
to the tune of his own dark angel’s call;
while Fate tossed the dice with a smile.
We’re only, as he could clearly see,
a heartbeat away ... from Eternity.
Author notes
In memoriam for Julian (Victory Gin). R.I.P.
This is a Petrarchean sonnet, although it's not in 15-19th Century iambic pentameter. The form was originally codified by Petrarch, in Italian, and is not normally much used in English poetry. It has a final couplet, which was unusual, but not at all unknown in Petrarch's sonnets, or in Milton's.
What did you think?
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
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The poem has a natural rhythm not dependent on the orderly repetition of stresses within a line. It reads as it would be spoken or written in any setting without losing anything of poetic grace. The rhyme is perfect in every sense.
I was not familiar with the person remembered through this gracious and graceful eulogy, so I looked at some of his poetry in order to have some sense of him. The poet here has recalled the person well if the few poems I read are typical of the body of work he shared with others through All Poetry.
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Julien was a genius ...
and he loved villanelles. That's probably why we got along so well, as I often write them.
Few seem to do that any more. Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by.
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The title drew me in, the message kept me. Wonderful authors notes on style and form and history only serve to confuse me I loved it for its lyrical feel and its wisdom. It was beautiful and a wonderful tribute.
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I like this very much, an absorbinig fantasy. The wording is somewhat modern in spite of the form. Both are well done.
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I find this a great poem of recognition
of poet's respected life-works! Petition
in so doing, remembering that inevitably
the older we get the sooner it will be!
The trick is to have life worth an elegy...
Terry
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Looks like I"m s.o.l. ...
how are you doing? Hopefully, things have gotten less intense by now.
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Thought Provoking
Beautifully Well Written -
and now i know why i have not spoken to him for a long time. i had no idea. only been back in the site since march. a good poem in honour of him. aye, we are always just a breath away.
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Good Heavens ...
you're fast. I just finished replying to your comment.
Yes. It's a sad thing indeed. I miss him a lot, as do many others, I've found. Genius is so rare that it's a double tragedy when it's gone beyond recall.
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What a beautiful finish. A beautiful look at death. I loved all of the description leading up to it too, especially these lines, "is mind raced about from place to place:
from dankest depths to icy outer space."
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Right On...
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OK
Having read the writer's profile, it is impossible to think this is not autobiographical. Not my favourite, but when I think I have praised..well, no need to be negative.. Personally, I think the H word should be banned!
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I've written ONE ...
poem about me specifically, in my entire life, and it DEFINITELY is not this one. I can't even imagine how anybody could come up with an idea like that.
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Excellent
Only a heartbeat away. Yes, tis true.
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Well crafted, I liked this.
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Nicely done!
' We’re only, as he could clearly see,
a heartbeat away ... from Eternity.'
is a beautiful line.
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Well done.
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He'd have loved this one, too, Jim. You should send it to Zayra, as well. Beautifully penned, Scribe. Good luck in the contest, my Friend. 
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“Solve this puzzle”
Oh my God. This actually gave me the shivers. I mean it...I'm like tingling all the way to the tail bone. You nailed him, kiddo. Just painted him perfectly from tip of hair to bones in the toe. And yes, you did it beautifully. I'm actually trying hard not to cry thinking about how much this reminded me of him. It is both gracious and exquisite and some where some how, he must know it too.
And blessing you for it...
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Thanks ...
this one was inspired by reading some of Julian's poems early this morning. The villanelle is the one I dedicated to him though. I wasn't sure if he'd like this one, but I knew he'd like the villanelle. He loved villanelles.
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