.

I Know Them Well

Don’t preach to me of heaven and of hell
expecting me to tremble and to cower.
They’re here on Earth, and yes, I know them well.

I do not need to hear your church bell knell
from high atop some dominating tower.
Don’t preach to me of heaven and of hell;

I do not need your sermons or your bell.
I have the stream, the tree, the stone, the flower.
They’re here on Earth, and yes, I know them well.

And I have painful stories I won’t tell
of hopes I’ve watched reality devour.
Don’t preach to me of heaven and of hell,

of hunger only God’s good grace can quell.
The wind holds grace, as does the mountain shower.
They’re here on Earth, and yes, I know them well.

I don’t believe your tale of how Man fell,
for Eden’s here each minute of each hour.
Don’t preach to me of heaven and of hell.
They’re here on Earth, and yes, I know them well.

.

.

Mike Ruskovich lives in Grangeville, Idaho. He taught high school English for thirty-six years. He and his wife have four children.

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8 Responses

  1. Allegra Silberstein

    Your villanelle is profound and beautifully written. Thank you…Allegra

    Reply
  3. Cynthia Erlandson

    This is an excellent villanelle. Among many great lines, “… hopes I’ve watched reality devour” really hits deeply. Keep writing!

    Reply
  4. Joshua C. Frank

    Interesting poem. It sounds as if the speaker has decided that he’s not a Christian because he (I always assume the speaker is the same sex as the poet until proven otherwise) believes nature to be sufficient for all things, good and bad. Indeed, even we Christians can identify with “hopes I’ve watched reality devour.” However, given this, I’m not sure why he thinks “Eden’s here each minute of each hour,” since there was no suffering of any kind in Eden until Eve and then Adam ate the forbidden fruit.

    Still, the poem is interesting and well done.

    Reply
  5. Drilon Bajrami

    Very powerful poem, Mike, that made me feel slightly uncomfortable — I love all literature which makes me feel that way. Maybe it’s because I can relate so well, as I’m sure we all can: suffering is a universal human thing.

    It also reminds me of the Shakespeare quote: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”

    Great poem!

    Reply
  6. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    I am a huge fan of the villanelle, and you have done the form every justice in this thought-provoking poem. I am drawn to the lines, “Don’t preach to me of heaven and of hell,/ of hunger only God’s good grace can quell.” Too many are playing God on Earth these days, and (for me) these lines speak volumes on those pretenders who claim they are able to cure all. You make an excellent point in a nihilistic age of spiritual dearth… powerfully and beautifully. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. Talbot

    A very lovely meditation for those who, without the Faith, find solace (and perhaps grace) elsewhere.

    Reply

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