Two

The diagnosis half true, she smells the Limes, on a tree lined avenue, acts like she knows, the ties that bind, blows hard on her bones, hope holds you aloof, she knows that is right, except there's no clue, she won't be alone, in this cosy light, to break out the stones, but has to keep going, through cold evening night, when the kids phone in, she sits near the flue, it's not like a crime, for a fire to warm you, thinks she'll be fine, drink leads to ruin, it's just a strange time, to wonder if you're through?

One the number poems of 22 ines taken from page 25 of older villanelles

The sun rises uneven, cars fill up their lanes, it won't wait 'till evening, beyond the night is right, need you to say, there is a life outside, an awful rush of energy, coffee tastes the same, who needs reason, sail away on the line, it matters that you stay, not go off this time, with my dawn novena, I smile like a hurricane, my body swells a treat, it really is fine, in and out I pray, drink a little sweet wine, bars wave like wheat, it's a morning shame, not just my swollen feet, that you'll rub again.

Zena

Go on then be free, you're only skin and bone, who am I to relieve, or demand what to say, sing the song I own, along this brief highway, a taste bittersweet, penetrates my soul, floats it on the breeze, who are you to state, the only pain is home, when you're in the fray, you smell of the sea, no human need to groan, against a rock of eternity, sing as you pray, console with those you own, no house makes you pay, call on time to leave, don't really want to know, is it you who believes, I walk away on stones?

Xanthia

Don't turn away silent, we can go home again, maybe in a better time, do what we can alone, need not be in shame, rivers rise on their own, laugh in warmer climes, no one's to blame, part of me is dying, beyond that war zone, the shifting sands of fame, a place we know, return us on the tide, all you need to say, it will be all right, when promises get broken, spirits dance aflame, they call to the stones, love bows down at night, howls at ancient places, waits for lamps to shine, will it be the same?

Yayla

Before you came for me, who carried your light, of love across the sea, they say it isn't you, in whispered prayers at night, do they know the truth, somewhere in my deceit, I lost all the signs, we're supposed to believe, even with that news, a power beyond my sight, I can never claim virtue, love's a bitter feed, it discerns and asks why, not something you can clean, wolves howl at the moon, words spoke ill at ease, some cloak an open tomb, broken call on my knees, won't you wait a while, if you would only see, love lights my smile.

Yola

We can never say, who'll warm our bones, when we've been away, the picture's not kind, she can cry but she won't, home is not right, do thoughts work this way, the same as in war, when things become plain, like the harvest light, with hardly a sound, hung under a gentle sky, maybe she'll take a train, like last winter's love, that came around this way, a horizon once bright, she navigates alone, feels that it's right, a line on her face, she'll just carry on, everyone feels pain, bearing that wound.

Xena

Love holds the door ajar, your hair falls down the line, you don't get very far, but sit around a Pool, trees bend wave in time, who can bear their news, or ask about your Da, just another wine, lonely as a shooting star, the money he tooled, in a poor jaded light, sunshine just for fools, home another car, furnished by mother's cries, no room for chairs, swear you're no fool, to forget the hurt inside, or that other part of you, that sits on the bar, and sees the morning rise, hit the highway burning tar, do you need your eyes?