RETIREMENT: A Villanelle

Winner of POETRY IN RHYME-RHYTHM CONTEST March 2009.

Retirement: A Villanelle                                                                      

Near a clear, deep lake of gleaming sapphire,
is a small log cabin, built by hand.
That will be my home, when I retire.

Close friends singing ‘round the bonfire.
They make their living off the land
around the clear, deep lake of gleaming sapphire.

Grandchildren swinging from a tire,
or exploring freely while close at hand
I’ll watch them from my home, when I retire.

With nets and poles and people I admire,
fishing from the old boat whenever we can,
in our clear, deep lake of gleaming sapphire.

No longer stagnant in the city mire,
my peaceful existential plan.
This will be my life when I retire.

Clear, starry nights, a full moon that inspires,
I watch the sun rising up from the sand
over a clear, deep lake of gleaming sapphire.
This will be my life when I retire.