.

I Would Say Yes

—a villanelle for Larry on our 36th Anniversary

We were young and rather stupid then,
But still I see that we were meant to be.
I would say yes a thousand times again.

From the first we’ve been the best of friends;
Life was simple and our dreams were free,
Though we were young and rather stupid then.

I’ve never wondered what else could have been:
We’ve kept our promises (imperfectly.)
I would say yes a thousand times again.

Our many goals did not quite go as planned,
And often we lacked eyes of faith to see,
For we were young and rather stupid then.

Together we saw life of loved ones end,
And tasted joys and walked the valley deep;
I would say yes a thousand times again.

As I look back from time’s expanding lens
I see God’s Providence for you and me.
While we were young and rather stupid then,
I would say yes a thousand times again.

.

.

I Might Remember

—a pantoum

I thought I would remember. I was wrong.
I planned to call you but I quite forgot.
There it goes—my thought, my mind—it’s gone!
To be honest I forget a lot.

I planned to call you but I quite forgot.
I set reminders often on my phone.
To be honest I forget a lot.
Don’t fret! I am completely fine alone.

I set reminders often on my phone.
I will not drive. At least not very far.
Don’t fret! I am completely fine alone.
Don’t mind the broken fender on my car.

I will not drive. At least not very far.
Would you believe my keys are gone again?
Don’t mind the broken fender on my car.
Those other drivers though! They are insane!

Would you believe my keys are gone again?
I thought I would remember. I was wrong.
Those other drivers though! They are insane!
There it goes—my thought, my mind—it’s gone!

.

.

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

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4 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Gigi, these are two precious gems of elderly thoughts and wonders. At my age, I fully identify with them and am so pleased you “would say yes a thousand times again.” Bless your heart.

    Reply
  2. Joseph S. Salemi

    My wife and I have just celebrated our 34th anniversary. Gigi Ryan’s villanelle caught me unawares, and I choked up. Thank you, Gigi.

    Reply
  3. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Gigi, what perfect employment of these forms to make beautiful and serious points with the repetition enhancing the messages with linguistic music. I just love the third stanza of your villanelle where truth meets beauty perfectly. Thank you! Congratulations to you and to Dr. Salemi on your celebrated anniversaries – here’s to many more years immersed in the wonders and mysteries of love.

    Reply
  4. Margaret Coats

    Happy Anniversary, Larry and Gigi!

    “As I look back from time’s expanding lens” is a beautiful line for an anniversary poem. It expands to look forward as well–confident in God’s providence. My preferred line from the pantoum is “Don’t fret! I am completely fine alone.” This describes one of the ways my husband and I have worked together for nearly 43 years. You remind me, Gigi, that I’ll owe him a poem. You did well this year!

    Reply

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