Paul Callus Poet Villanelle

Notes About The Poem

Earth Cries

My pulse is weak; it flutters while I plead
for air to give my lungs a chance to breathe.
Abuse must stop, or soon my heart will bleed. 

My virgin flesh despoiled and robbed for greed,
in pain I cringe and hide my face in shame.
My pulse is weak; it flutters while I plead.

Entwined in thorns, I’m begging to be freed.
My lips are dry; they thirst for kiss of life. 
Abuse must stop, or soon my heart will bleed. 
 
These ailing limbs, unwilling to concede
defeat, as vibrant echoes numb the mind. 
My pulse is weak; it flutters while I plead. 

Mankind is blind, appears to take no heed.
The soul is lost and time is running out.
Abuse must stop, or soon my heart will bleed.

On verge of suffocation, I’m in need
of love and hope to sprout from hidden seed.		
My pulse is weak; it flutters while I plead.
Abuse must stop, or soon my heart will bleed. 


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International Earth Day Contest
Hosted by Carolyn Devonshire

[Published in Kavya Kishor, Bangladesh ~ 25 April 2023]

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Dr. Upma A. Sharma August 20, 2015 at 1:01 AM Congrats on ur awesome poem n win Paul! Wonder how it got screwed up earlier? Paul Callus August 20, 2015 at 3:45 AM We all judge differently, Upma!! Tastes differ...shows we are not robots:) Thank you for a lovely visit! // paul

Skat A August 19, 2015 at 1:53 AM Paul, nice to see this one get the honor it deserves.... SKAT Paul Callus August 20, 2015 at 3:32 AM Thank you Skat! To me, raising awareness to earth's plight is most important. ~ All the best. // paul

MD Johnson July 25, 2015 at 9:48 PM Very moving and nicely constructed villanelle. Some of my favorites are in this style. I have tried, but not nearly as well as you. Well done. Paul Callus July 26, 2015 at 3:30 AM Thank you for the nice comments, Michael. Villanelle are not easy to construct. Lots of thought is needed as preparation in order to get a flowing effect, and rhyme could be tricky, too. Have a nice day. // paul

Robert Lindley July 14, 2015 at 9:04 AM Absolutely love this poem and its message my friend. I would give it a ten but this seven will just have to do..A7 Paul Callus July 14, 2015 at 4:04 PM Thank you for your generosity, Robert! Villanelle is an interesting form to use; I am glad that the message has been appreciated. All the best, my friend. // paul

Laura Hay June 28, 2015 at 1:48 AM Excellent write/read Paul! Kind Rgds Laura Paul Callus June 28, 2015 at 3:56 AM Thank you Laura; your 'excellent' comment is most encouraging:) All the best. // paul

Constance La France June 26, 2015 at 8:03 AM Paul, this write is beyond wonderful, a 10, so powerfully sad, well done and thanks for visiting my haiku 9 Paul Callus June 26, 2015 at 8:16 AM You are too kind, Constance:) Both comments and high rating are much appreciated! Have a nice weekend. // paul

Andrea Dietrich June 25, 2015 at 8:46 PM don't see congrats here. Sorry if it did not get on her list, Paul. I enjoyed your comment on my interview piece. Yes, ALSO Adam and I have in common, we do not enjoy much fruit in our diets!! Not apples either. hahaha Paul Callus June 26, 2015 at 7:03 AM No worries re contest...I awarded myself a win:)) No apples, huh!! Do keep us updated about the 'relationship:) // paul

Emile Pinet June 24, 2015 at 5:30 PM Your words speak with the power of realism, striking a common cord of concern as your mind set flows onto the page and we can connect with your feelings. Emile. Paul Callus June 25, 2015 at 4:16 PM Thank you for the insightful comments, Emile; so pleased that you enjoyed my poem, and its message. // paul

Carol Eastman June 24, 2015 at 9:14 AM I loved the flow and the message. It was very well written, indeed!. You displayed a lot of talent, here. Paul Callus June 25, 2015 at 4:14 PM Thank you Carol; you are too kind (but I love your feedback!) All the best. // paul

Debbie Guzzi June 23, 2015 at 8:14 PM Very good use of personification, give yourself a bit more breathing room try 12 syllables per line? Thanks so much for stopping by-Light & Love Paul Callus June 24, 2015 at 5:29 AM Hi Debbie! Thank you for reading and for the feedback; for my next Villanelle I will take up your suggestion:) All the best...paul

Gary Bateman June 23, 2015 at 10:08 AM Hello Paul, This is a most excellent Villanelle!! I've written one of these in the past for my first book. I currently plan to do another soon. These are challenging writes to put together, but you've done this one so very well. Good Luck in the contest!! I think you may have the Winner with this write!! Reading your poem here reminded me of a rhymed couplet I wrote a few months ago called: "Mother Nature Cries." There are some parallels. The literary flavor poem is excellent!! A 7 + FAV! Gary Paul Callus June 23, 2015 at 4:02 PM Your encouraging feedback is a joy to read, Gary. Villanelle sounds easy, but is not. Same applies to Terzanelle. Before starting to write, some technicalities have to be observed. Thank you for both the high rating and the fav!! All the best. // paul

Kp Nunez June 23, 2015 at 9:12 AM You've combined the power both of content and form to create a compelling read and beautiful write, my friend. A 7 and a fav. PS. Sorry for not being able to comment for sometime, was away and still catching up. Hugs! :-) Paul Callus June 23, 2015 at 4:08 PM Thank you Kim; your insightful comments are music to my ears; so are the high rating and the fav...you are too kind:) No problem about being away for a while...priorities come first; catching up is not easy at all:) Top marks went to your Terzanelle...very much impressed!! hugs // paul

Afolabi Muideen June 23, 2015 at 2:08 AM An excellent write for the contest Paul, good luck in the contest........A.M. Paul Callus June 23, 2015 at 10:58 AM Thank you, Afolabi. Your visit is an encouraging one! // paul

James Marshall Goff June 22, 2015 at 9:25 PM Paul, well done! We are, and many concur, that we are living in the 6th mass extinction of vertibrae life, man included, it does not have to be so...but all signs point to preparations being taken by a few evil globalists to demolish the precious skin of the apple we call the surface of earth....only love on a united scale can save us...jimbo Paul Callus June 23, 2015 at 10:49 AM Thank you for the insightful comments, James! I have this nagging feeling that ultimately it will be nature itself that will turn on us and teach us one big lesson! All the best. // paul

Richard Lamoureux June 22, 2015 at 7:59 PM Excellent writing Paul! You used this form to full advantage. Paul Callus June 23, 2015 at 10:19 AM Thank you Richard. Hope the message is clear enough to raise awareness. // paul

Andrea Dietrich June 22, 2015 at 3:48 PM this is very creative work, Paul. A metaphorical villanelle. Not an easy thing to accomplish. Good luck in the contest. Paul Callus June 22, 2015 at 4:46 PM Thank you Andrea; no, it is not easy when it comes to rhyming words; I'm glad you found it creative. // paul

Constance La France June 22, 2015 at 11:44 AM Paul. This is a wonderful write for the contest. A perfect 7 and thanks for visiting my poem, decay Paul Callus June 22, 2015 at 3:25 PM A double thank you Constance, for the lovely comments and high rating. All the best. // paul

Viv Wigley June 22, 2015 at 12:34 AM A strong message, and as for the Villanelle you are a master of your craft, Paul. High regards, Viv Paul Callus June 22, 2015 at 3:28 PM You are too kind, Viv; your comments are truly appreciated. All the best. // paul

Njeri Hunjeri June 21, 2015 at 9:51 PM Am on your team too.for the abuse to stop. Paul Callus June 22, 2015 at 3:24 PM Thank you for your support, Njeri..and for stopping by. // paul

Ilene Bauer June 21, 2015 at 8:21 PM alas, i don't see the abuse stopping anytime soon, paul, but your passionate poem has conveyed your fervent plea quite brilliantly... Paul Callus June 22, 2015 at 3:31 PM Raising awareness is the least I can do, Ilene. I know that stopping abuse is hard, but we just cannot give up. Thank you for your lovely feedback. / paul

Alexis Y. June 21, 2015 at 5:18 PM I just popped back to give you a 7 for a job well done:)Alexis

Alexis Y. June 21, 2015 at 5:15 PM Paul, this is a well written eye opening piece. I agree with its powerful message. The abuse must stop. Excellent job.Good luck in the contest :) Alexis Paul Callus June 21, 2015 at 5:36 PM Many thanks Alexis, both for the insightful comments and the high rating. :))) to you too:)) // paul

Jan Allison June 21, 2015 at 3:50 PM Brilliant villanelle the personification and imagery is wonderful Paul this would also be excellent for the 'stuff' contest:-) good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx 7 Paul Callus June 21, 2015 at 5:09 PM Thank you Jan; so glad that you like it. I still have to see what the "Stuff" contest is about. Hugs // paul