Take not the road of ruin that is long
Walk on the gold and rivers of the Nile
With every breath praise life into your song
For darkness weeps and often comes along
Resting with wolves to greet you by the mile
Take not the road of ruin that is long
Simmer with senn and sage some soothe of strong
The weak divide their frown before they smile
With every breath praise life into your song
For life is but a path of right and wrong
Where we court life and death along the aisle
Take not the road of ruin that is long
Listen and learn and lay concrete lifelong
While taking steps tender upon the tile
With every breath praise life into your song
Become beauty and bliss where you belong
As errors tempt the trail you take by trial
Take not the road of ruin that is long
With every breath praise life into your song
First Person Villanelle
L Milton Hankins
08-04-2022
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