villanelle, about a childhood memory I have wanted to write about for years.
A Villanelle for the Kahler Sisters
When summer nights were long with light
through my high bedroom window
dusk was a murmur on a hot summer night
windows open, listening through screens
to the old Kahler Sisters living behind us
when summer nights were long with light
what were their lives like these sisters to each other
on their screened in porch, they talked in low voices
they were just a low murmur on a hot summer night
What were their lives like in younger days?
One sister went strolling around the block
when summer days were long with light
she wore a mink coat in muggy July heat
wasn’t she hot as I ran sweaty with sun
she mumbled at us in the hot summer light
The Kahler sisters were transparent old
practically ghosts in their former selves
when the days and nights were long with light
they were just a low murmur, on a hot summer night.
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Annette's major revision 01-02-2022, I made more minor edits here since I sent you the email verison.
Villanelle for the Kahler Sisters
1When summer nights were long with light
2 through my open window flowed a mystery
3 as dusk drifted murmurs into fading night
4 windows open, before stars became bright
5 sat the old Kahler Sisters filled with their history
1 when summer nights were long with light
6 on their back porch did they mumble their plight
7 of growing old, brittle, and aging silvery
3 as dusk drifted their murmurs into fading night
8 how were their lives when they were sprite
9 did they marry or work, I don’t know their story
1 when summer nights were long with light
10 one sister wore her mink in July sunlight
11 I could not relate, feeling hot and blistery
3 when dusk drifted their murmurs into fading night
12 the sisters were pale, transparent-old, alright
13 ghosts of themselves in their season wintery
1 when summer nights were long with light
3 dusk drifted murmurs into fading night