On stranger shores I feel that phantom pain
That missing touch the feel of you and me
And mourn the fading light alone, again.

In morning comes the lesson, no regret
Your voice a whispered prayer on bended knee
On stranger shores I feel that phantom pain

A pleasure’s moment not enough and yet
The end still comes, I search but do not see
And mourn the fading light alone, again

So there I called you back and marked my debt
To every god and demon bound and free
On stranger shores I feel that phantom pain

And though we braved the storm the dice was set
I hear you call across the endless sea
And mourn the fading light alone, again.

We paid the price, our balance now offset
But mortal dreams can fade like you from me
On stranger shores I feel that phantom pain
And mourn the fading light alone, again.

Authors Note:

I love the form of a villanelle. There is something oddly ritualistic about it. This is very rough, and more of an exercise to get back into the feel of writing with constraint. It was fun, though

I hope you like it.

– S