.

.

Webb

Beyond the vast and empty sky,
Where darkness dwells forever wide,
The eye arrives to question, “Why?”

The universe has long denied
A distant glimpse to those below
Who seek to see where stars collide.

But now the eye can help them know
The stars the heavens never showed
And share with them their splendid glow.

And so they’ll see the night explode
With galaxies beyond what shows,
A part of space where time has slowed.

The eye unfolds from its repose
And peers inside the Maker’s hand
To understand what heaven knows.

It then reveals a starry band
Beyond what man can comprehend,
Yet held within a grain of sand.

.

.

Winter

I saw her walk by me today,
And she was garbed in pearly white.
I paused as she began to dance
With gentle grace, to my delight.

She was so close, I felt her breath.
Her downy gown was at my feet.
What seemed like whispers in my ears
Were pleas from her to not retreat.

I had no love for winter days;
I’d shown in verse my deep disdain.
But then this moment came along;
From loathing her, I did refrain.

She held me captive in her arms
And softly kissed my naked cheek.
She then appealed with tears of ice,
No further words of hate to speak.

A sudden silence pierced my ears
As flakes of silk hung in the air.
Then myriad others joined with them,
Displaying winter’s flowing hair.

I smiled and watched as she performed
Her ballet dance for me to see.
I then began to understand
Why winter fills the heart with glee.

.

.

Forgotten

I’ve read the wizened words inscribed with pens
That wistful poets paint with latent eyes.
Their pains, abandoned dreams, and faithless friends
Are voiced in lines of verse that some despise.
They drown in sorrow dancing in their minds,
For they can see the tears within their words.
They sing exquisite lines of varied kinds,
Much like the songs of captured mourning birds.
Oh, pleasant are their words when I despair,
When soothing solace draws away from me.
Their tears are like a balm applied with care,
Which soothes a captive heart and sets it free.
__Their choral words may see a thousand years,
__Forgotten then will be the poet’s tears.

.

.

Angel L. Villanueva is a poet and a USPS mail carrier residing in Massachusetts.

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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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21 Responses

  1. Peg

    Thank you for sharing your poetry here, I have enjoyed all three very much… particularly WINTER!
    You are quite gifted, it seems, friend

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thank you for your kind expression, Peg. I’m pleased that you have enjoyed reading all three. It seems my effort to improve my writing over the past year has yielded results. The Classical Poets website has been a wonderful resource, and I have learned plenty from the many poems posted here by the very talented poets who kindly share their work.

      Reply
  2. Rohini

    Absolutely beautiful! I was captivated by Winter, I too have learnt to love her, albeit bundled in three layers.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thank you, Rohini. I had always disliked winter. But taking some long walks in wooded areas and open fields during a snowy day and without the bitter cold has made me appreciate the beauty it offers.

      Reply
  4. Roy Eugene Peterson

    All three poems are exquisite in their vivid essence with sweet alliteration and even double entendre sprinkled in for good measure. They are a delight to read and ponder.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      It’s one of the things I love about poetry—the ability to paint a scene with words. Thank you, Roy!

      Reply
  5. Cynthia Erlandson

    I love the skillful terza rima of “Webb”; the exquisite imagery of “Winter” (though my tendency has been to dislike the cold season — this helps, though!); and the fascinating thought expressed in “Forgotten”.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thank you for your encouraging expression, Cynthia. I very much enjoyed writing all three, but writing “Winter” was particularly so, given my general dislike for the season.

      Reply
  6. Paul A. Freeman

    Three different themes and forms, all done extremely well.

    Being a fan of astronomy, I was particularly taken with Webb.

    Thanks for the reads, Angel.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Having seen several of the images the Webb telescope has captured moved me to attempt to capture in poetic form the grandeur of what we can now see. I appreciate your comment, Paul. Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Shamik Banerjee

    Each poem is a bundle of joy! I love the gentle progression in Winter, the beautiful imagery it offers, and the way it smilingly concludes. Forgotten is a thought-provoking piece that has been brilliantly penned. Webb is what I got fixated on. The big, vast, endless space always fascinates me, and reading this poem has undoubtedly intensified it. Also, this is a subject that I’m also willing to write about someday. Thank you for these wonderful poems, Angel. God bless.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thank you, Shamik. I’m glad you enjoyed the poems. Your comment is encouraging and kind. I have been working on improving my poetry writing while experimenting with various forms. The Terza Rima was a challenge for me, but I am pleased with the result. The recent images Webb has captured are stunningly beautiful!

      Reply
  8. David Hollywood

    Three very enjoyable poems across such varying styles and themes. Winter is my favourite, and is a time I enjoy for its various gifts and because I like to witness the changes in the seasons, as each arrives with its own promise. Thanking you.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thanks, David! Each season has its own unique beauty, but with winter, it has taken me a long time to come to appreciate what it offers.

      Reply
      • Anissa Gage

        You’re very very welcome !!! You write like an angel ! What an appropriate name ! Take care and stay safe ! Happy reading and writing ! As for myself, I just saved one more cat and am trying to scribble something for Meowy Catsmess !!!!!

  10. Margaret Coats

    Angel, I’m most impressed by the ending of “Forgotten.” It’s an unusual perspective on the “eternizing” motif, in which a poet wants to be always remembered for words he has written to make his beloved “eternal” in some way. You write about the comfort a reader gains in reading sad poems, which is one reason love poets, especially, are remembered. Instead of telling the poet that his words will last forever, it’s a nice touch to proclaim that his tears will be forgotten, while the words continue to be read. Consolation along with fame!

    You’ve contributed many, many seasonal poems, and this one on winter is, I believe, lovelier than any. You are indeed advancing in the craft. And with the poem on the Webb Telescope, you’ve taken a new kind of subject into your particular style and point of view. It is another eye that enables us to see more of creation and love the Creator. I very much like the final line with the unexpected statement that we can now see a starry band “held within a grain of sand.” The Telescope works like a microscope! But in fact, from our earthly sights, a galaxy could occupy space seemingly the size of a grain of sand. Good work.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Margaret, thank you for your insightful and encouraging comment on all three poems. Your astute analysis of Forgotten is excellent. Thank you! I do enjoy writing about the seasons, and though winter is my least favorite part of the year, I have come to appreciate it.

      “The telescope works like a microscope!” How true! I read an article on NASA’s website about WEBB’s deepest infrared image of “a tiny sliver of the vast universe,” which is described as “approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length.” Yet, within that small area, there are thousands of galaxies! It is simply astonishing and awe-inspiring. It moved me to write about it.

      Reply

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