Grace Moves Me, I Step Aside (Villanelle)

Meeting the attack with spiritual aikido.

Grace moves me, I step aside
when force fills your blazing fist -
met with love, I can abide.

In sanctuary, I hide
from swords meant to slash each wrist -
grace moves me, I step aside.

Your words burn with hate and pride.
I falter, cannot resist -
met with love, I can abide.

On waves of sadness, I ride;
now ashore in blinding mist,
grace moves me, I step aside.

You burn up the tears I've cried
in desert heat, heart dismissed.
Met with love, I can abide.

Shadows gather in my midst,
on this light try to subsist.
Grace moves me, I step aside;
met with love, I can abide.

Author's Note

Another experiment with the Villanelle form, capturing what I am trying to practice in daily life- meeting each conflict with love, letting grace move me out of danger, even when the attack is fierce.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Villanelle is one of my least favorite forms, becuz I'm not a fan of repeating lines. Many times a poet will repeat lines just becuz the form says so. But in your poem here, the repetition does sound much more natural & like it belongs in your message, furthering your message, rather than just being a parrot type thing. Now for your message . . . I love it. What this sounds like to me is "turn the other cheek" which is my only way to deal with people who come at me with anger or meanness. I'm not trying to employ grace, so much as I just can't find the words to match an assault, so I just go away. I love the way you describe this process in detail . . . everything comes across as being very originally-stated.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much for your in depth review! I agree- the lines repeating can be like a meaningless echo- I feel grateful that lines came to me that capture the sense of stepping aside from an assault- I studied this physically in martial arts, but it's different when it's a verbal, spiritual or emotional assault- in those situations I do rely on something greater than me- whether it be my higher self or God- grace does move me out of the way if I'm open to it. But you're right- the intention to turn the other cheek is at play, and your response resonates with me. Thank you for your positive comments both on the form and the message- it means a lot to me to find people with the same essential intention not to strike back.

[Teddybearlee]

I must confess, this is one of the rare times when the form caught my eye, and I really enjoyed it. Normally I'm just focused on words, meanings, relating, and understanding, but I think you captured everything you needed perfectly and I'm guessing stayed true to the form you were trying to write in, very well done.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you so much! Yes, I too am often focused on what you are, and just beginning to see if a particular form can add to the meaning or emphasis. Thank you for your kind words and continuing encouragement. I am definitely working on seeing through the darkness to the light, and trying to post poems that bring hope- but in my heart, I still feel so much awareness of the darkness around. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Another good experiment I will say of this form. Until I read your first one I had not heard of it. I like the flow and the refrains at the end of the stanzas. The last four lines hit me the most.

Well done.

[Marianne Rose]

Thank you! It's interesting to restrain myself from my usual long-winded stream of consciousness expressions and play with form. As it happened today, a most strenuous one at work especially, I found myself saying "Grace moves me, I step aside, met with love, I abide"- like a mantra- and it helped actually sidestep feeling the full force of people's pain and suffering around me- helps me to stay present without absorbing people intense feelings right now, and not take anything personally. So interesting when a writing is meant to be a gift to me! And so affirming that others might find something in the expression for themselves. So thank you for reading and for your kind words.