Household Need: a villanelle

I wrestled and came out victorious and I can't quite believe it.

Margaret Ann Silver wrote a villanelle that blew my mind, it was so good. After reading hers, I was so curious about the structure of a villanelle and before I knew it, I was trying out my own in any spare moments I had. My husband is a bit jealous that I had headspace for this, but half of it was worked out in my mind while my hands were busy with the household needs (hehe). It was so fun to give this a try!

The Household Need 

As mother, I meet the household need
Always making a delectable feast 
Each day the hungry mouths I feed 

The baby's midnight cries I heed
Give cuddles and kisses to the least 
As mother, I meet the household need 

From book and Bible, to children, I read
I show them the world from west to east 
Each day their hungry minds I feed 

My man and I work hard to succeed
Our two hearts so different, yet together pieced
As wife, I meet the household need 

Outside, I plant, dirt over seed
Collect eggs and castings from bird and beast 
Each day their hungry mouths I feed 

It's busy and beautiful, this life I lead 
I'm in awe of the love it's unleashed 
As mother, I meet the household need
Their hungry mouths and minds I feed 

Last Sunday, I was sitting writing down a poem idea in my notebook and my oldest daughter asked me what I was writing. I told her and she asked me to read some of my poems out for her. It felt weirdly vulnerable to read aloud my half-baked poetry ideas to the family but it was also fun to share that side of me with them.

Well, there was a pay off to that vulnerability. This afternoon after school, that same daughter sat down and wrote her first poem. I cannot explain to you how giddy that made me feel and how proud I am of her! She was also so pleased with herself, “Dad, I wrote a poem!”

Here is her poem in her gorgeous handwriting and spelling, as well as an illustration to match:

It reads:

God's love is better than a giant tree.

Or like a bird's sweet songs.

God is the Lord God of the whole universe.

Some moments just absolutely shine in motherhood. And this was one of those times!