Saturday, October 24, 2009

villanelle: "Code blue"



"Code blue" they said three times    but Yama's hand
moved every piece into its lethal place
the chessboard shows what destiny has planned

we move through nights and days by whose command?
we seek to glimpse what ever-distant face?
"Code blue" they said three times    but Yama's hand

is suave and stealthy    let me take my stand
by loving you    though your game's named "erase"
the chessboard shows what destiny has planned

I came back from points East both broke and tanned
around the globe by winds of fortune chased
"Code blue" they said three times    but Yama's hand

is sure and steady    we're familied and clanned
we're civilized with lavender and lace
withal the chessboard shows what fate has planned

New York and California your life's spanned
you had to leave    but why this sudden haste?
"Code blue" they said three times    by Yama's hand
the chessboard shows what destiny has planned

=====

for my mother, Betty Jane Israel (April 2, 1927 - October 23, 2009) in memoriam

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful... beautiful... beautiful!
Echoing shocks of Code blue ringing through the strong solid bond connecting you... you are still one... even though her hand which you held hours ago, and which beckoned you to join her on earth as her son this lifetime is no longer warm. The warmth of your bond is eternal.
Love to you both
Be gentle to yourself during the transition.
Jeannie

zu said...

code white, they should say,
to reflect the glory abound;
code white we all saw,
though not one of us made a sound.

code white, code white in Yama's hand,
light of the eternal;
code white, code white by Him she stands
free of life's coded thrall.

David Raphael Israel said...

Ah -- warm thanks Jeanne and Zu for your responses.
d.i.

sharanya said...

My condolences, David. I hope you and yours are coping as well as one can.