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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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15 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
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Roy,

      I am so glad you found the wonder in them. Thank you.

      Gigi

      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
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Joseph,
      Congratulations to you and your wife! It thrills me to strike a chord with others.
      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
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Susan,
      Thank you for commenting and for your congratulations. I have so enjoyed making use of forms of poetry that include repeated lines. I have only learned of them in recent years and they joyfully expand my options.
      Gigi

      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
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Margaret,
      Thank you.
      “As I look back from time’s expanding lens” is admittedly one of my favorite lines. As you say, it looks forward with confidence in God’s providence as well, a comfort I didn’t understand as a young person.
      Gigi

      Reply
  5. Jeff Eardley

    Gigi, my wife and I have just celebrated 51 years of marriage, (5years as well before that) We are still best buddies, once young and stupid, now elderly and stupid. “I would say yes” nailed it for us. Thank you so much. There was another poem from you but I seem to have forgotten it. Ha Ha!
    A lovely read today.

    Reply
    • Gigi Ryan

      Dear Jeff,
      A hearty congratulations to you and your wife of 51 years! I am happy the poem resonates with you and your experience as well.
      Gigi

      Reply
  6. Cynthia L Erlandson

    Thank you so much, Gigi, for sharing the love poem you wrote for your husband. It’s so sweet I almost cried. You’ve inspired me to write one for my husband for our 40th coming up later this year. Great pantoum, too.

    Reply
  7. jd

    I’m inspired as well, Gigi, for our 55th coming up in August. I hope I can do half as well as you’ve done with both of these very fresh classical poems. They are both so true to life at a certain age.

    Reply
  8. Russel Winick

    Gigi – “I Would Say Yes” is a marvelous poem, written in the perfect form. I enjoyed the pantoum also. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Paul A. Freeman

    Yep, the villanelle is pretty special. I can’t add more than has already been said.

    The Pantoum I found quite melancholy. My mother went through ‘forgetfulness’ and we had to take the car keys away from my dad towards the end.

    These poems are two ends of the spectrum, very well written. Thanks for the reads, Gigi.

    Reply
  10. Warren Bonham

    Hard to add more but we’re coming up on 30 years this November. You’ve raised the bar very high. I just set a reminder on my phone to write a poem to mark the occasion. I hope I don’t forget.

    Reply

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