Monet's Garden

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The gate to Monet’s Japanese garden’s open,
beckoning, and green as Giverny’s winter wheat,
but there’s no time to glimpse the pond’s lilies within.
 
Monet’s Rose Cottage-locked to all but the wrens-
though curved trellises invite, and a path entreats;
the gate to Monet’s Japanese garden is open,
 
but the tour bus’s door closes, we can’t go inside.
Deep within submerged, asleep, in their frosted retreat
but there’s no time to glimpse the pond’s lilies within.
 
Black skies sully the palette, a torrent begins
all hope lost in the thunder’s accompanying beat.
The gateway to Monet’s Japanese garden is open;
 
with a glance, we leave; we can say that we’ve been?
A dream sought, not found, Normandy’s gem incomplete.
but there’s no time to glimpse the pond’s lilies within.
 
Accustomed to beauty, the plump driver’s chagrined;
yet, he’s kept to schedule; we’ve stayed in our seats.
The gate to Monet’s Japanese garden is open,
but there’s no time to glimpse the pond’s lilies within.


First Published in Allegro Poetry Magazine Fall 2015

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



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Date: 9/14/2017 10:07:00 PM
How disappointing to not be able to walk the garden and see the pond! Lovely write, Debbie, as always x
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Debbie Guzzi
Date: 9/21/2017 7:28:00 PM
Thanks, Thvia!
Date: 9/11/2016 1:26:00 PM
Yes... I see it now... it's a funeral! There, the garden lives. Our side of the gate is "The Land Of The Dead".
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Debbie Guzzi
Date: 9/11/2016 2:06:00 PM
Nope it's a tour bus which stopped only so we could glimpse Monet's Cottage & garden BUT not go in. ;)
Date: 9/4/2016 1:46:00 AM
I cannot fathom it! To be so close... unless this is a dirge, the repeated lines beat- death's knell. Impossible that a storm could chase you from that scene, a fingers-reach wonder away. I cannot fathom it.
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Date: 6/28/2016 11:14:00 AM
What a disappointment. To see any of a great artist's works live is an unforgettable experience. Love, daver
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Date: 6/6/2016 11:38:00 AM
That is "sacrilege". I am not a art buff, but a visit to the garden is worth more than a "little" Mona Lisa to me. Even my five little kiddies loved it way back. I like that you write about traveling. It triggers memories and I can easily connect. Inspiring.
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Date: 5/9/2016 7:22:00 PM
To be so close then need to drive away.:( It could have been equally as spectacular! An exquisite write, this Villanelle. Still I feel pinched by sadness, each time I read of "the pond lilies within". Anyhow, Keep well and be happy! Hugs, Mikki
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Date: 4/3/2016 6:52:00 AM
The villanelle is one of my favorite poetic forms, Debbie. Thanks for sharing. You picked a good way to tell the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Great imagery, allowing me to ride along on that bus, and share your disappointment.
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Date: 4/2/2016 6:31:00 PM
Such wonderful imagery and flow Debbie I have only attempted a villanelle once before - you have inspired me to try the form again one day:-) hugs jan xx
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Date: 4/1/2016 11:32:00 AM
This is the first Villanelle I have read where the refrain is unobtrusive except for maybe " "Do not go gentle" I know the feeling of being close to something you have always wanted to see and not being able to. We missed the Lippizaners in Austria. Best, SuZ
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Date: 3/31/2016 11:29:00 PM
Absolutely beautiful, brings me memories!
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Date: 3/31/2016 10:04:00 PM
Beautiful...
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Debbie Guzzi
Date: 3/31/2016 10:11:00 PM
Thanks Charlie
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