villanelle: Expatriate Life

A fine example of dancing bear poetry. This is not exactly “Do go quietly into that good night”, but I’m quite proud that the bear dances at all; villanelles are hard.

Expatriate Life
I stand alone, in doubt to act or rest,
Adrift and plunged deep in the utter east
As I persist in bridging east to west.

A feted, yet at times uneasy guest.
In throng’ed crowds alone as when crowds ceased:
I stand alone, in doubt to act or rest,

I knew these years would be adventure’s crest,
That at their end, my self would be increased,
As I persist in bridging east to west.

I knew they’d be uneasy years at best,
So much to learn, of words and ways not least.
I stand alone, in doubt to act or rest,

And as I knew I’d be, at times I’m stressed,
Yet at its best, this life is a fat feast
As I persist in bridging east to west.

I love it, though at times it’s been a test;
I chose adventure over easy peace.
I stand alone, in doubt to act or rest,
As I persist in bridging east to west.

OK, I cheated once. But I think I should get extra credit for using antonyms for the two major rhymes, and also for managing to quote both A. Pope and C.S. Lewis within the space of one stanza.