Lean close and listen
Do you hear the rhythmic beat
The hearts song it sings
Tapping out love’s flamenco
In throes of passion for you
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Tag Archives: love
I Beg Of Heaven – A Villanelle
I beg of heaven for light of day
For night fills dreams of you with fear
On bended knee in tears I pray
~
What can I do, what dare I say
To break this darkness with love and cheer
I beg of heaven for light of day
~
This deep despair I keep at bay
In hopes you’ll return my cherished dear
On bended knee in tears I pray
~
I never would your heart betray
My passion felt I have made so clear
I beg of heaven for light of day
~
Were I to change would then you stay
Anything I’d do to mend heartbreak severe
On bended knee in tears I pray
~
To you, I promise to never stray
Your honor I’ll guard and never besmear
I beg of heaven for light of day
On bended knee in tears I pray
~~~~~~~~~~~ // ~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
** I thought I would give a new style a try. The Villanelle is in the form of A1 B A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2 / a b A1 A2. It is very structured, but was interesting to write. I would appreciate any feedback you may wish to provide. Thanks.
The Hands
I remember the hands,
Dark, calloused, weathered,
Like the old leather of my hand-me-down Buster Brown’s.
Skin the shade of olive;
Disfavored for their Napolitan roots,
Unafraid of hard work,
Unrepentant for the right and wrong that they’d done.
They played jacks,
Scuffled in the schoolyard,
Held the hand of their first love
All before the start of the First World War.
Trembled in fear,
Shouldered a carbine,
Took their first life,
Comforted their comrade as they passed on
During the ravages of the Second World War.
Returned home to the embrace of the wife left behind,
Prepared to resume peaceful work,
Lifting crates,
Tossing sacks
Unloading train cars,
Driving trucks
All to support a wife and newborn baby.
Cradled silently to his breast,
Calmed when she cried,
Held her hand on the first day of school
Waltzed during the father daughter dance
Clapped during graduation,
While holding two jobs to make ends meet.
Toiled never ceasing as the family grew,
Their work never eased.
Time bent and broke them making it more difficult,
But nary a complaint did they utter.
Finally age made the decision,
Putting them out to pasture,
A much needed rest ensued.
The years were kind,
Allowing them to pursue their passions,
Until clasped in prayer,
The Lord called them home.
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
I Think Of You
I think of you…
When I’m alone
In a crowded theater
Just before I close my eyes
~
I see you…
In the face of every stranger
Standing beside me in the mirror
Lying next to me while I sleep
~
I feel you…
When we are apart
When I caress a picture you
In my most restful dreams
~
Know I love you…
‘Til my dying day
With every fibre of my being
With every breath I take
~
Simple things to express the depth of my love
Never ebbing, heartfelt and passionate
Engrained into my soul
My soulmate, my lover, my friend
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Skinned Knees
Skinned knees
Blood red
Torn pants
Frayed rope belt
Too big for frail frame
~
Nails caked
Hands shake
Dirty hands
Utensils for eating
Food is scarce
~
Shirt ragged
Sleeves ripped
Buttons missing
Better than nothing
Shopped from trash
~
Face leather
Beard unshaven
Hair matted
No place to shower
Embarrassed by odor
~
Scrap cardboard
Help Me Please
Eyes pleading
Can you spare a dime
Will you spare a dollar
~
Looking away
He’s invisible
Just a bum
Remember his knees
He wounds like us
~
You pray to God
Recite His passages
Holier than thou
Looking down your nose
You detestable hypocrite
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Awakening
Awakening to the first rays of day
Filtered through muddled panes;
Thankful for each cherished breath,
The perfection of the day,
My wife, children, friends, acquaintances,
Those whom I have not yet met,
Perfect in just their existence.
This happiness is born deep within;
It can not be projected on one by another
Nor given as one would tender a gift.
This joy must live of it’s own volition,
In unison with the body temple,
Expelling that which festers melancholy.
Would anyone not choose happiness over misery,
Relaxation over stress, Peace over violence,
Love over hate…I think not.
This ability lies within each of us,
Active or in hibernation;
Only a nudge is necessary to awaken it
Often we bury it under rubble;
Forged from the drama surrounding us.
Though unavoidable,
It must not be permitted to loiter.
Rather it must be cast out as a leper,
Burned at the stake,
Sacrificed to the gods,
Guaranteeing the health of our mind,
Our body
And our spirit.
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Godless Hypocrites – A Tanka
Godless hypocrites
Plague this world in their God’s name
Unleashing hatred
Are these demons not in sight
Ripe for justice to be served
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Metamorphosis (For My Daughter)
Faces in the crowd,
Nameless, peering through me,
Recognizing every minute flaw,
Silently laughing,
They whisper behind cupped hand,
Eyes dart in my direction then away,
Not so very subtle,
They think I’m oblivious,
But I see them,
I know what they are thinking,
I know what they are saying,
These things are not who I am,
One look in the mirror bears this out,
My reflection is unique,
Beholden only to me,
Blonde hair,
A shade unlike any other,
Ivory skin,
Imperfect, but my own,
Neither stick thin nor tall,
Comparisons to runway models are unfair,
Artificial life forms,
Moulded from botox and silicone,
Airbrushed to flawless perfection,
Idols born of magazine covers and centerfolds,
An unrealistic expectation for any young woman,
To live up to this cosmetic fraud is impossible,
Beauty is only skin deep,
Physical and momentary,
I am so much deeper than the shallowness of this pool,
If you could only see my essence,
The storm raging inside me,
Hopes, dreams, passions, opinions
Swirling like a typhoon,
A perfect storm,
Waiting to erupt with explosive force,
Breaking out of this cocoon of fear,
Leaving shards of this scared little girl,
In pieces on the floor,
Rising out of the wreckage,
A stronger more self-confident woman,
Able to speak for myself,
Defend my views,
Hold my head high in the face of adversity,
To cower no more,
Behind a mask of insecurity,
My opinions matter,
Commanding respect,
Regardless of whether we disagree,
I am an equal,
And I demand to be treated as such,
No longer subordinate,
My age, race and gender should have no bearing,
Yes, I may fall, but I will not break,
Yes, I may occasionally fail, but failing does not signal inadequacy,
I will sprain and bruise,
Scars left as reminders of experience gained,
But you must grant me this right of passage,
Allowing me to grow and become independent,
Crawling out from under my parents wings,
To stand unaided as if for the very first time,
An infant in a brave new world,
Opened up to be lived and explored,
I will voice my politics,
This is now my right,
Using my vote to shape the world I live in,
Unafraid to stand up,
Even when ridiculed by those of differing views,
This is their right as it is mine,
I will pay them no head unless civil,
Extremists hold no sway over me,
My hopes and dreams stand before me,
With open arms waiting to embrace,
I have the power of mind and body,
To grasp and hold all that I desire,
Be it business, education, the helping of others,
All these things are within my reach,
It is not for you to determine my passion,
You do not live within me,
But you benefit by my being,
I will break out of this shell,
Becoming all that life has endowed in me,
If I will just let me go.
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Passion Unspoken – A Tanka
Passion unspoken
Gentle touch…a kiss
With soft moans assent
Intertwined and euphoric
Two hearts inseverable
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Song For You
Songs sung– Sung to you
I sing to you– Songs of truth
You– I hold so dear
Never were my eyes so clear
Comfort me and all my fears
Love grows– As years pass
Subtle, soft and sweet it lasts
This– I know as true
This I knew as passion grew
Love will outlast time
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 