.

Eternity

If I could give her just one gift,
What would she want that gift to be?
Would she prefer a diamond ring
Or roses spread across the sea?

Would she prefer a priceless gem,
A string of pearls, or maybe two?
Would she suggest a trip to France
To buy a cottage with a view?

Perhaps she’ll like expensive shoes
Or cruising on the open seas.
Or take a flight around the world
And then indulge in shopping sprees?

I’d gladly give these things to her
If I were rich and had the means.
But I’m a simple, humble man
With scanty wealth and tattered jeans.

I did find out from my dear wife
One summer night under a tree
That all she wants is my true love—
To see eternity with me.

.

.

Hold This Truth

If death should take my breath, my dear,
_Shed just a tear for me.
Your time to mourn will not be long;
A day of joy will come along,
_Then freed from pain you’ll be.

The grave will hold my fleshless bones;
_I will return to dust.
My life will be in death’s embrace,
A somber room, a lonely place;
_To darkness I’ll be thrust.

Recall the things that we went through
_While still in early bloom.
When we were young and full of hope,
We met with tests and had to cope
_But rose above the gloom.

But now that we are old and gray
_And near the end of life,
Reserve within your heart and mind
That death cannot keep life confined;
_Be cheered, my lovely wife.

So hold this truth within your heart:
_You’ll touch my face again.
The Sovereign Lord will soon reveal
That even death to him must kneel,
_And I will see you then.

.

.

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

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15 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    These are two timeless precious gems of true love. Love and romance are among the greatest gifts which poets can bestow on us, and these are exceptionally beautiful and meaningful.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thank you so much, Roy. Your comment is encouraging. I take pleasure in writing for my wife, as it brings joy to both of us.

      Reply
  2. Paul A. Freeman

    I could see where Eternity was going, but it was great to be along for the ride for the final ‘Awwww!’ The ‘tattered jeans’ were a great touch, and well-timed.

    Thanks for the reads, Angel.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      I appreciate your comment, Paul. My wife and I will be celebrating our 43rd anniversary this year. It has been a wonderful journey, one we desire to continue.

      Reply
  3. Margaret Coats

    True love is the only exchange for true love–but then there’s one thing more. In this sublimely lovely pair of poems, Angel, you reveal how to find these best blessings. The search through the gifts is touching, especially the unimaginable “roses spread across the sea.”

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Margaret, thank you for your encouraging words. I always enjoy reading your comments. I appreciate your support and insight.

      Reply
  4. C.B. Anderson

    Margaret is right about everything, and your poems on the subject of love always remind me a bit of some of those by Rupert Brooke.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I haven’t given much attention to Rupert Brooke’s poetry, but I have enjoyed the pieces I have read. I appreciate your comment.

      Reply
  5. Cynthia L Erlandson

    These are very beautiful and touching, Angel, especially the second one. I like the rhyme scheme of that one very much, too.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      I’m glad you enjoyed the poems, Cynthia. I also appreciate the rhyme scheme of the second poem; it’s one of my favorites. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

      Reply
  6. Adam Sedia

    Both poems emphasize the eternity of true love, and that is why I think they are so touching. You show us the inevitability of death and decay, then give us hope by showing that love transcends all of that.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      I appreciate your comment and insight, Adam. The enduring nature of true love and the inescapable reality of mortality are topics I’ve read about in other poems. Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Frank Rable

    Angel, my wife and I just celebrated our 47th, and with all my heart I pray that your poetic prediction in “Hold this Truth” comes true. The vow says, “till death do you part” but I believe that somehow there will be, there must be more.
    However, if perhaps you married several times in your life, will you take comfort in the vow as an escape clause? Sorry, I was trying to balance the romantic outflow that you inspired with a stupid joke. 47 years requires humor.

    Reply
    • Angel L. Villanueva

      Congratulations on your 47th anniversary, Frank! That is truly wonderful. Your joke made me smile. No doubt, humor is an essential requirement for any successful marriage. When my wife and I got married, we were both young, just 22 and 20 years old. We have faced several challenges during our marriage, but we’ve handled them together as a team. Our relationship extends beyond marriage; we are also very close friends. I’m sure you can relate. Thank you for your kind comment, Frank.

      Reply
  8. Shamik Banerjee

    These poems, like most poems of yours, are like the free-flowing lyrics of some vintage hits: clear, memorizable, and sentimental. I like the form of Hold This Truth. Great work, my friend.

    Reply

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