STAY AWAKE(A Villanelle)

Eternity is like the Advent Wreath;
no creep of death, no withering away;
continuous in love, forever green.

Against the values that will always keep,
our jewelled lives will last a single day.
Eternity is like the Advent Wreath.

Above the mobile phone’s demanding bleep,
the Voice we may not listen to, will stay
continuous in love, forever green.

The Breath of Life will mist the TV screen,
hold still the teeming way; we’ll hear Him say,
Eternity is like the Advent Wreath.

From darkened hills, the promised dawn will creep;
the vigilant alone, will see this day,
continuous in love, forever green.

Two thousand years, yet still, we mustn’t sleep;
a blink of time; not long to stay awake.
Eternity is like the Advent Wreath,
continuous in love, for ever green.

© Marion Sharville