Et in Arcadia ego
by 
michwo
|
Posted: Friday, September 23, 2016 Word Count: 145 Summary: Cliff Hanger introduced me to this villanelle form, though I was already familiar with virelai and rondeau (cf. previous submissions The Chart of Tenderness and Love's Torments.) This poem is based on the picture of the same name by Poussin in the Louvre. |
Et in Arcadia ego
Even in Arcady death and decay.
Three shepherds are confronted by a tomb.
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
The man she steadies gazes up her way
And bridles at this sarcophagus room.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
The shepherd next to him has kneeled to pray.
Athena and the third one standing loom.
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
What’s this impervious to light of day?
This stone, unlike a horse, eschews a groom.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
The corpse inside lies untouched by sun’s ray
Or will it just be bare bones lie there soon?
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
The tranquil scene’s unmarred by donkey’s bray
And in the sky no witch rides on a broom.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
Three shepherds are confronted by a tomb.
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
The man she steadies gazes up her way
And bridles at this sarcophagus room.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
The shepherd next to him has kneeled to pray.
Athena and the third one standing loom.
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
What’s this impervious to light of day?
This stone, unlike a horse, eschews a groom.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
The corpse inside lies untouched by sun’s ray
Or will it just be bare bones lie there soon?
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.
The tranquil scene’s unmarred by donkey’s bray
And in the sky no witch rides on a broom.
Even in Arcady death and decay.
Athena steadies one man there you’d say.