Finduilas

by fileg

A villanelle by Denethor about the fires that drive passion

villanelle / finduilas

Finduilas

I knew my spirit could not take me higher
And yet I burned when I embraced your light
That's when I gave my heart up to the fire

For in your depth was all that I require
And in that moment, as with second sight
I knew my spirit could not take me higher

I never understood about desire
Until I saw you were both dark and bright
That's when I gave my heart up to the fire

And when our souls ignited on that pyre
I rose up like a phoenix; reached for flight -
I knew my spirit could not take me higher

I should have known that cruel fate would conspire
To take you from the arms of your true knight
That's when I gave my heart up to the fire

I never understood about desire
Until you left me nothing but the night
I knew my spirit could not take me higher
That's when I gave my heart up to the fire

*******

Author's Notes:

This was written for the Henneth Annun challenge to write the poetry of Denethor. I didn't really mean to write thisl, except as an exercise. I thought I would work with the terzanelle form, playing with the sound and repetition, but I was soon drawn into the stricter structure of the villanelle - I wanted to use a form as formal as Gondor.

I am not sure I am convinced in my own heart that Denethor ever felt, or indeed was capable of feeling anything this strongly. So, this was quite an exercise for me. I don't think it is an accident I wrote a poem he would have written to address her loss, not to celebrate having her love. Finduilas is written after her death (and with an edge of prophecy)

If you would like to know more about interlocked and other kinds of poetry, please write to me or join us at Henneth Annun in the forum called verse and adversity