The Scratches and crackles of the old 78.
Grandfathers voice spinning around my head.
I never knew it but you marked my fate.
The Bakelite jumps and is out of date.
Clipped consonants that are now long dead.
The scratches and crackles of the old 78.
Your voice was vibrant and carried weight,
passing on a musical genetic thread.
I never knew it but you marked my fate.
The war took bounce and life from your gait
lanced your arm but gave you song instead
and the scratches and crackles on the old 78.
When I was born it was just too late
for me to remember the things you said.
I never knew it but you marked my fate.
The Bakelite passed to me from your estate
the circle of your words held inside my head.
I never knew it but you marked my fate.
The scratches and crackles of the old 78.
Lovely villanelle! I’m wondering if introducing Grandfather in the third person in stanza one should be repeated throughout for consistency. I like him being addressed directly in the following stanzas so maybe there’s another way of introducing him? Maybe in the title?
Good idea.
The form is a winner as the repetitions conjure up the records being played and replayed.
Excellent.
it worked for me – and I definitely can’t write villanelles – like the way the old 78 could be your grandad as well as the record – super duper