Grandmother

Poetry class assignment: write a villanelle.
My grandma recently went blind in one eye, though for dramatic purposes, it’s general blindness.

Bring me back to when you still had your sight.
Time took your vision, but you are still strong.
Look through the darkness to memory light.

Your daughter struggles, but you do not fight;
You remain content. You’ve battled too long.
Bring me back to when you still had your sight.

I wanted to know stories of your plight,
But you said your books would pass them along.
Look through the darkness to memory light.

You will not see gardens in May sunlight,
And yet still you sing. Your voice and your song
Bring me back to when you still had your sight.

When you die your body will burn to white,
And only your image will be passed on.
Look through the darkness to memory light.

Do not go silent into that good night—
I will tell your stories when you are gone.
Bring me back to when you still had your sight.
Look through the darkness to memory light.

Tags: class work, villanelle