Donna Fullerton Poet Villanelle

We Count Life's Breath

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, yet,
last year’s death toll amassed far too much grief.
We count life’s breaths with terminal regrets. 
 
Lost my loud and crazy best friend, Yvette, 
we had just spoken. I’m still in disbelief.  
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, yet. 
 
Aunt Queeny and Cousin John met June’s debt  
with weariness and time stretched not so brief.    
We count life’s breaths with terminal regrets.
 
Shakespearian Sawyer ended his verve, met 
unending anguish from Issac’s unborn sleep. 
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, yet. 
 
Five more red curtain calls left us bereft,
Mom’s Song of Farewell brought lasting relief.
We count life’s breaths with terminal regrets. 

Casket palls placed, welcome new life, netting
God’s comfort for the kin and the deceased. 
What does not kill you makes you stronger, yet,
we count life’s breaths with terminal regrets.

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Rico Leffanta March 20, 2022 at 11:54 AM Although I am not a mortician, I enjoyed reading this! Aloha! Donna Fullerton March 22, 2022 at 7:43 AM Thank you, Rico. This past year has been a rough one for the family. It is getting better though. I am enjoying my class at college.

Donna Fullerton March 20, 2022 at 7:11 AM I am learning about poems with a class I am taking at college. We had to write a Villanelle. I hope this one is alright. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you, Donna F