by Kate Cheney Chappell

MONHEGAN VILLANELLE

When day descends the stair of sky
And ribs of clouds exhale the light,
The sea breathes deep as colors die.

West bellows blow the embers high
And dark-winged terns stitch flames in flight.
When day descends the stair of sky,

She walks the stones where wild tongues lie,
and, lambent, searches cloud’s delight.
The sea breathes deep as colors die.

And sieves the gold, the rose, the rye
Like coins through colanders of light.
When day descends the stair of sky,

Bright water cups, then darkly sighs
And laps the petal edge of night.
The sea breathes deep as colors die,

Makes grief in phosphorescence fly,
And spills it on horizon’s height,
When day descends the stair of sky,
The sea breathes deep as colors die.

Kate Cheney Chappell