Cape Bright, a villanelle

Of all the poetic forms, I think the villanelle is my favorite. It looks so easy when it's done right and done well. Here is a villanelle I recently wrote for my daughter to add to her sketch book of ideas, drawings, dreams, and poems.

Cape Bright

On the sandy shores of Cape Bright

She loves to put her hands deep into the sand

Dig, grab and giggle at the broiling soft shelled shape

All the other girls admire her bucket, mouths stretched tight

In a circle they stand and gather round

On the sandy shores of Cape Bright

Little boys impatient in their envious slight

Poke at her bucket to test and hound

Dig, grab and giggle at the broiling soft shelled shape

Adults so curious in their towering height

Vacations with eyes upon children they are bound

On the sandy shores of Cape Bright

Teenagers, unaware, now ignorant of this right

Hunker and hoard together like shiftless mounds

Dig, grab and giggle at the broiling soft shelled shape

And you there, dear daughter, a beachy heart of might

Smile wistfully on this moment found

On the sandy shores of Cape Bright

Dig, grab and giggle at the broiling soft shelled shape