The Inner Sea: a Villanelle

By Penny Gurner

Mind the pulling tides of the inner sea

Ripped through, and from, other forms of feeling

Hold true course to the uplifted soul’s plea

The echoes of a ward I could not see

Played by the dark, a window unsealing

Mind the pulling tides of the inner sea

Child dreamed an image of fox by the tree

Filled her with dread, little fish, a reeling

Hold true course to the uplifted soul’s plea

Police and a phone call informing me

News from the ether, misheard it kneeling

Mind the pulling tides of the inner sea

Firm face of fate: ‘you’re a coward,’ to be

A man talked down, in layers she’s peeling

Hold true course to the uplifted soul’s plea

At times, heart pain, and fear is the turnkey

To vessels submerged, one side felt keeling

Mind the pulling tides of the inner sea

Hold true course to the uplifted soul’s plea

By Penny Gurner