.

Peter’s Story

a villanelle

I’m standing by the Sea of Galilee
And Jesus calls for me to come along
With James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

I’m with Him as He sets the prisoners free,
Feeds the hungry, and instructs the throngs.
I’m standing by the Sea of Galilee.

He’s scorned and mocked and hung upon a tree,
I watch Him die (undoing every wrong)
With James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

My heart is dark; I say, “How can this be?”
I take a walk. This evening feels too long.
I’m standing by the Sea of Galilee.

To the tomb I go with John, we see
He’s gone! He reappears; I praise with song
With James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

He makes us fish, we love His company.
He rises; He’s again where He belongs.
I’m standing by the Sea of Galilee
With James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

.

.

Villanelle of Praise

I praise you for it’s You that I adore.
My sins upon Your back with love You bore
Because Your mercy lasts forevermore.

You took away the rags that I once wore
And healed with oil my self-inflicted sores.
I praise You for it’s You that I adore.

The evil that You hate I, too deplore.
Your righteousness is what I’m panting for
Because your mercy lasts forevermore.

With sweetest wine my cup You overpour,
You make me rise on eagle’s wings and soar.
I praise You for it’s You that I adore.

My armor I will wear and go to war
With the ones whose mouths against You roar
Because Your mercy lasts forevermore.

All creation someday You’ll restore.
Your kingdom will eternally endure.
I praise You for it’s You that I adore
Because Your mercy lasts forevermore.

.

.

The Hidden Woman 

Swiftly will the fame and fortune wane
Beauty will not last though tailor made.
When life is at its end the world will find—
What matters is what’s done with God in mind.

To be bejeweled with cheers from ‘round the globe
Is no match for heaven’s finest robes,
Gifts to daughters who have placed their trust
In the Savior who made them from dust.

A woman who enjoys the hidden life,
(whether sister, mother, friend, or wife)
And keeps her closet warm with prayer and praise,
And loves the Lord and seeks out all His ways,

Has more influence on the world than those
Who have their thousands captive by their shows.
She is not afraid of growing old;
Her graying hair is her love story told.

She’s slow to anger and shuns bitterness;
Kindness is her rule. She does confess
Her sins and gratefully she then receives
Pardon and ensuing inward peace.

With faithful quietness she does her deeds;
Opinions of the world she does not heed.
Few may even know her by her name;
But God says on His hand her name’s engraved.

Her cup runs over with a wine so sweet;
With Jesus she has secret bread to eat.
Her greatest joy is to the Lord belong
And this directs her heart and every song.

When by death her faith a sight becomes
And the Lord says “Daughter, job well done.”
Grandest glories open to her eyes,
Through Jesus’ blood she’s won the greatest prize.

.

.

Gigi Ryan is a wife, mother, grandmother, and home educator. She lives in rural Tennessee.

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12 Responses

  1. Warren Bonham

    All of these are fantastic! Poor old Zebedee doesn’t get much attention so it was great to see him featured prominently in the first poem. I was particularly drawn to the Villanelle of Praise. For some reason, I really like mono-rhyme. It’s hard to sustain over a poem of this length while actually having something meaningful to say. Well done.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Warren,
      Thank you for your encouraging comment. I wasn’t sure about the mono-rhyme at the time, either, but the words just seemed to fall out in that way so I went with it.
      Gigi

      Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    These are three divinely inspired poems that shine this Easter weekend. The wonderful rhymes are an ideal framework for these verses of thankfulness and praise that touch the heart of Christendom. I love this outpouring from a sensitive spirit-filled soul.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Thank you for your encouragement, Roy. It means much to me that my heart is transparent in my verse.
      Gigi

      Reply
  3. Jeremiah Johnson

    Loved that villanelle of praise – it strikes me that villanelles are structurally very much in the same vein as some of the Psalms. That building up of a sense of awe and wonder through the repetition of phrases. I think David and Moses would have appreciated the form!

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Jeremiah,
      Yes! The villanelle reminds me of the Psalms that are antiphonal in structure. When I was first introduced to villanelle form I was afraid it was too repetitive, but I came to appreciate how the repetition weaves the story together.
      Gigi

      Reply
  4. Peg

    How beautiful…all three.
    Thank you, Dear Sister!!
    I worship alongside you

    Reply
  5. Yael

    All three poems are a delight to read, thank you very much, and Happy Easter to you.

    Reply
  6. Margaret Coats

    The hidden women came out for Calvary and for Easter, didn’t they? Although the villanelles read more smoothly, I am more drawn to the subject of “The Hidden Woman.” Very beautiful thoughts and lines here, Gigi. She “keeps her closet warm with prayer and praise,” implying that even if her house is small, she maintains a smaller sacred space or “closet” for herself and God. She is willing to perform the difficult duty of confessing, and (what is sometimes even more difficult) of receiving pardon. “With Jesus she has secret bread to eat.” Belonging to the Lord “directs her heart and every song,” and this can be so whatever her state in life. Wondrous way to live.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Yes, Margaret, yes. The hidden women came out for Calvary and Easter. Just as Jesus told his disciples that, “This type only comes out by prayer and fasting,” (meaning that they had to have been of the habit of prayer and fasting to be prepared to do the work), the hidden women were prepared for their ministry by their long-standing faithfulness behind the scenes.

      This poem was inspired by my children telling me of a famous singer. How popular, how rich, how admired she was. She seems to “have it all.” But all I could feel for her was pity. Everything she has is fleeting and she, like Martha, “missed the best part.”

      The deep contentment of a life hidden in Christ brings fruit that cannot be comprehended by those who do not have it.

      Thank you for your thoughtful reading and reply.
      Gigi

      Reply

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