the deepening ground

Just like last year, I’m returning to some of the unpublished photo poems inspired by images from The Guardian’s Photo of the Day posts that I wrote back in 2019 when I was teaching a semester course in poetry. Having just covered the villanelle form in my AP English Literature class today, and seeing that I wrote this poem just over two years ago on January 28th, 2019, it felt like the perfect fit, despite the fact that I was tempted to share something more lighthearted such as my poem on fashion or the threat of McDonalds. But we’ll save those for another week!

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My Shepherd

A villanelle by Vincent H. Anastasi 2019

He leads me with his steady voice
Though long the road and hard the way;
No wonder my heart must rejoice!

The path we take is of his choice;
I knew not where the dangers lay.
He leads me with his steady voice.

When lurking doubts my hope destroys,
My shepherd holds all fears at bay;
No wonder my heart must rejoice!

His rod and staff he oft employs
To keep me near lest I should stray;
He leads me with his steady voice.

And though I often lose my poise
He does not spurn this fickle clay;
No wonder my heart must rejoice!

So in his steps, deaf to the noise,
I’ll follow him from day to day.
He leads me with his steady voice;
No wonder my heart must rejoice!