Never Again

A villanelle

A peaceful reproach he did say.
With words he had never uttered,
And never again would he keep at bay

the truths standing in his way.
Content to what he had just muttered,
A peaceful reproach he did say.

No matter the time of day,
His words had meaning to their stutter,
And never again would he keep at bay.

The listener replied with a simple nay,
Then sent their ears on a flutter.
A peaceful reproach he did say.

Swift feet carried the listener away,
With their thoughts a clutter.
But never again would he keep at bay.

Truth unveils the elusive needle in hay.
The façade’ loses its shutter.
A peaceful reproach he did say,
And never again would he keep at bay.