winter scene painted by King Carl XV of Sweden‘A Walk in Solitude’: A Poem by Angel L. Villanueva The Society May 29, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 10 Comments . A Walk in Solitude I strolled a path in solitude As snow and frosty winds renewed. The night was giving way to light When I beheld a startling sight: There was a figure up ahead Whose twisted shape invited dread. Its form was cloaked in falling snow, Which by that time began to slow, But not enough to clear the view, So I then called a name I knew. Perhaps the figure knew me too, Yet only fear within me grew. So who was here with me today? And who had crossed my path this day? I paused right there to look around And search for steps upon the ground. The snow remained devoid of prints; I roved my eyes for other hints. With squinting eyes, I braved a gaze And uttered words infused with praise. I slowly walked toward the sprite As sunlight chased away the night. I was relieved to clearly see That what I’d feared was just a tree. . . 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. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 10 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson May 29, 2025 Nice suspense beautifully presented with well-chosen words and a flowing rhythm. Enjoyable to read, as are all those you gift us. Reply Paul A. Freeman May 29, 2025 There’s a potted plastic palm on the stairs to my apartment and several times when I’ve come home after dark, it’s given me a start. A very atmospheric piece, the tension well ramped up, Angel. Reply Margaret Brinton May 30, 2025 Lovely lyrics! Reply Scharlie Meeuws May 30, 2025 With each new stanza the suspense grew. I could not wait who you would meet in the end… an angel? A ghost? with the last line-the solution. Just a tree…your poem is a big crescendo that in the end fades away and stops altogether. A tree. But I just love trees, any tree, and am grateful it was not the bogeyman but a beautiful tree. So really, I am very happy with the end. Reply Cynthia L Erlandson May 30, 2025 I enjoyed this poem. Good foreshadowing with the phrase “twisted shape” in the first verse. Reply Adam Sedia May 31, 2025 Interesting: you build suspense with the meter and couplets only to lead to an anticlimax. Reply Shirley Hua June 1, 2025 Beautifully written and I enjoyed the journey and imagination. It was solemn yet exciting. Reply Shamik Banerjee June 1, 2025 A lovely poem, Angel, and oh, the ending; totally got me. Thank you for sharing your magic! God bless. Reply Patricia Redfern June 3, 2025 What a moving poem, done so finelt, and with perfect verbiage! Not as simple as it seems.. some of the most famous piets like Frost create exquisite poetry,create exqiisite poetry! You are one of them! Reply Margaret Coats June 4, 2025 An anticlimax, perhaps, Angel, but also a self-realization that imagination of itself has few boundaries. The scene, though, with its specific time and light and atmosphere and movement, naturally creates the mysterious and uncertain situation. The poet takes a roving ramble reminiscent of Poe. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy Eugene Peterson May 29, 2025 Nice suspense beautifully presented with well-chosen words and a flowing rhythm. Enjoyable to read, as are all those you gift us. Reply
Paul A. Freeman May 29, 2025 There’s a potted plastic palm on the stairs to my apartment and several times when I’ve come home after dark, it’s given me a start. A very atmospheric piece, the tension well ramped up, Angel. Reply
Scharlie Meeuws May 30, 2025 With each new stanza the suspense grew. I could not wait who you would meet in the end… an angel? A ghost? with the last line-the solution. Just a tree…your poem is a big crescendo that in the end fades away and stops altogether. A tree. But I just love trees, any tree, and am grateful it was not the bogeyman but a beautiful tree. So really, I am very happy with the end. Reply
Cynthia L Erlandson May 30, 2025 I enjoyed this poem. Good foreshadowing with the phrase “twisted shape” in the first verse. Reply
Adam Sedia May 31, 2025 Interesting: you build suspense with the meter and couplets only to lead to an anticlimax. Reply
Shirley Hua June 1, 2025 Beautifully written and I enjoyed the journey and imagination. It was solemn yet exciting. Reply
Shamik Banerjee June 1, 2025 A lovely poem, Angel, and oh, the ending; totally got me. Thank you for sharing your magic! God bless. Reply
Patricia Redfern June 3, 2025 What a moving poem, done so finelt, and with perfect verbiage! Not as simple as it seems.. some of the most famous piets like Frost create exquisite poetry,create exqiisite poetry! You are one of them! Reply
Margaret Coats June 4, 2025 An anticlimax, perhaps, Angel, but also a self-realization that imagination of itself has few boundaries. The scene, though, with its specific time and light and atmosphere and movement, naturally creates the mysterious and uncertain situation. The poet takes a roving ramble reminiscent of Poe. Reply