"Children Playing" by Charles Bertrand d'Entraygues ‘Again’ and Other Poetry by Angel L. Villanueva The Society January 19, 2024 Beauty, Poetry 14 Comments . Again The bench is near where children play And where she sits to dream and muse. She knows her life will shortly fade— A doleful thought she can’t refuse. Her wrinkled skin declares her age, And her eyes, alive years ago When young and lustrous in their shine, Now seem like dying embers’ glow. Her hair is dull, a tangled gray, And lifeless in the twilight breeze. She smiles, recalling years ago When she could walk with graceful ease. The countless memories she’s stored Begin to flood her waning mind. Oh, how she longs for youth once more— The days when life was fun and kind. The children’s songs and gleeful shrieks Arrest her ears and misty eyes. She sees in them the days she lived— The years she wants to eulogize. As she observes the children play, The clouds announce an evening rain. She faintly smiles and shuts her eyes, Then dreams of being a child again. . . A Forgotten Joy He drives in grief to grandma’s home, The place he always loved to roam. For decades now, he has been gone, But death has claimed her life at dawn. When he arrives, a crowd has thronged To grieve for her, who had belonged. And then he joins the tears that flow As he absorbs the heavy blow. They talk about the times they shared And how they felt so unprepared. But now that she has breathed her last, They look for comfort in the past. Recalling all his wondrous years, He steps away from all his peers. His eyes are drawn to photo frames That now preserve undying names. In thought, he walks into her room, Where he had played in days of bloom. And there, beside his grandma’s bed, Remained his box of faded red. He lifts the lid, then reaches in And finds the boy that he had been. And now, like then, he hugs the toy His grandma made to bring him joy. . . Angel L. Villanueva is a poet and a USPS mail carrier residing in Massachusetts. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 14 Responses Rohini January 19, 2024 I loved both these charming poems. I hope some day to be remembered like this Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Yes. Being fondly remembered by others is a thought we will likely contemplate at times. Thank you, Rohini. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson January 19, 2024 Both poems are laden with sweet sentimentality and mourning memories that touch the heart. They are beautifully written with wonderful rhyme and rhythm that sings to me. Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 I appreciate your kind and generous expression, Roy. I wrote these a few years ago based on images I saw, which acted as a writing prompt. Thank you. Reply Satyananda Sarangi January 19, 2024 How wonderful the flow of these poems! I especially liked the line “She sees in them the days she lived— The years she wants to eulogize.” Lovely work! Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Thank you, Satyananda. I very much appreciate your feedback. Reply Paul A. Freeman January 19, 2024 Two well-written poems that gallop along seamlessly, though melancholically. Thanks for the reads, Angel. Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Thank you, Paul! I’ve been trying to write about different themes these past few years, like the human side of our lives—the challenges we face and the frailties of life. Reply Sally Cook January 19, 2024 Lovely poem ! Thank you. Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Thank you, Sally! Reply Margaret Coats January 19, 2024 Both are touching, Angel. “Again” reminds me of your “Endless Bloom.” These new poems imply the existence of personal and family secrets within the scenes portrayed (such as identities of persons whose undying names are preserved within photo frames, and recognized by the man who walks through his grandma’s house). Love the ending of “Forgotten Joy,” where this man rediscovers not the toy physically there, but himself as a boy. Very skillful development of concept and brief narrative there. Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Margaret, thank you so much for your comment! I had hoped that the narrative style would be appealing in these poems, touching on events that are very real in everyday life. Thanks again. Reply Shamik Banerjee January 19, 2024 These poems are so beautiful and emotive, Angel. I remember my first time reading your work a month ago. Ever since, I’ve become an admirer of your poetry and have read the ones present here. Absolutely wonderful! Keep delighting us! Reply Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Shamik, I am humbly pleased that you like what I’ve written. I keep working on improving what I write while making use of different forms and styles. Thank you so much! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Rohini January 19, 2024 I loved both these charming poems. I hope some day to be remembered like this Reply
Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Yes. Being fondly remembered by others is a thought we will likely contemplate at times. Thank you, Rohini. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson January 19, 2024 Both poems are laden with sweet sentimentality and mourning memories that touch the heart. They are beautifully written with wonderful rhyme and rhythm that sings to me. Reply
Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 I appreciate your kind and generous expression, Roy. I wrote these a few years ago based on images I saw, which acted as a writing prompt. Thank you. Reply
Satyananda Sarangi January 19, 2024 How wonderful the flow of these poems! I especially liked the line “She sees in them the days she lived— The years she wants to eulogize.” Lovely work! Reply
Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Thank you, Satyananda. I very much appreciate your feedback. Reply
Paul A. Freeman January 19, 2024 Two well-written poems that gallop along seamlessly, though melancholically. Thanks for the reads, Angel. Reply
Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Thank you, Paul! I’ve been trying to write about different themes these past few years, like the human side of our lives—the challenges we face and the frailties of life. Reply
Margaret Coats January 19, 2024 Both are touching, Angel. “Again” reminds me of your “Endless Bloom.” These new poems imply the existence of personal and family secrets within the scenes portrayed (such as identities of persons whose undying names are preserved within photo frames, and recognized by the man who walks through his grandma’s house). Love the ending of “Forgotten Joy,” where this man rediscovers not the toy physically there, but himself as a boy. Very skillful development of concept and brief narrative there. Reply
Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Margaret, thank you so much for your comment! I had hoped that the narrative style would be appealing in these poems, touching on events that are very real in everyday life. Thanks again. Reply
Shamik Banerjee January 19, 2024 These poems are so beautiful and emotive, Angel. I remember my first time reading your work a month ago. Ever since, I’ve become an admirer of your poetry and have read the ones present here. Absolutely wonderful! Keep delighting us! Reply
Angel L. Villanueva January 21, 2024 Shamik, I am humbly pleased that you like what I’ve written. I keep working on improving what I write while making use of different forms and styles. Thank you so much! Reply