‘Camino D’Oro’ (A Villanelle) by Robert Walton

Our paths vanish; our footsteps fade
From forest glades, from wave-damp sands
From sunlight’s dazzle and twilight’s shade.

Babes and toddlers, not yet afraid,
We reach and roll and often stumble
From sunlight’s dazzle to twilight’s shade.

In youth we lie ‘neath moonlight’s blade,
Cut by love; like kisses stolen,
Our paths vanish; our footsteps fade.

Mothers, fathers, we make the trade –
Our days, our tears, our blood for children –
From sunlight’s dazzle to twilight’s shade.

At waves’ last reach, a foamy braid,
Elders converse, words a murmur –
Our paths vanish; our footsteps fade

Fingers stiffen; our hands grow cold;
Voices soften from steel to gold.
Our paths vanish; our footsteps fade
From sunlight’s dazzle to twilight’s shade.

Robert Walton is an experienced writer. His Civil War novel Dawn Drums was honored by two awards: first place in the 2014 Arizona Authors Association’s literary contest and the New Mexico Book Awards Tony Hillerman Prize for best fiction.