He who will not mercy upon others show;
Mercy bears fruit richer than justice strict.
How can mercy he ever hope to have?
Even pity – her tears will cease to flow;
None to quench his wild despair.
He who will not mercy upon others show.
Expect no sympathy – none to be had
Seething shadows and breathing lies.
How can mercy he ever hope to have?
Triumphant in deepest grief and woe;
Thus bound with entrails of his foe.
He who will not mercy upon others show.
With bitter insults and revillings sad;
Let me lament alone while you’re glad.
How can mercy he ever hope to have?
Among virtues mercy – like moon among stars
The bosom of a cloud when storm has passed.
He who will not mercy upon others show.
How can mercy he ever hope to have?
Form: Villanelle
Photo credits: savatoronto.com
Posted for Midweek Motif @ Poets United
Bosom of a cloud when storm has passed…. Beautifully written!!
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Among virtues mercy – like moon among stars – is a wonderful line in this reflective poem which seems to echo events of the past week…it made me think also that if we cannot have mercy for ourselves and become our own detonator…how can we show it to others.
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As i read this villanelle, my thoughts went to Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.
Have a nice Wednesday Sanaa.
much love…
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wonderful. speaks sinuously to the request to write of that which is ‘mercy’
gracias for sharing your art
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I fear terrorists do not hope for mercy. Maybe they don’t even hope to be heard. I love how you use inversion to set up the repeat. Each time I asked myself if I could show mercy in that case. I waver.
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True words – he who has none for others, cannot expect to receive it in return.
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This is beautifully written–I love this form, and it worked so well here
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What a moving poem Sanaa. Those who live by the sword die by the sword then it is too late to make amends. Those who live in love will be loved in heaven.
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Thus bound with entrails of his foe.
He who will not mercy upon others show.
This has billings of karmic consequences. Often been said those tempered with mercy enjoy more of life. While those cruel are unsettling in experiences.
Hank
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Sanaa, I like this poem. Certainly, we can’t expect mercy if we never bestow it. I especially like the last stanza and the fact that you use the form so well.
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Wise words Sunny one! How can we ever expect mercy when we have dealt pain and destruction to others. A fantastic poem- the Villanelle did its job in emphasizing important points.
One of your best!
Many hugs 🙂
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PS: Big hugs to you!! 😀
Yes, I wonder the same sometimes. If someone does not show mercy to others, can that person expect or hope that mercy will be shown to them? Your poem leaves us with much to ponder.
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This is my favorite portion:
” like moon among stars
The bosom of a cloud when storm has passed.”
Great form for this topic, too.
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The last 2 lines are thought provoking. It all depends on a personal belief system. Christians believe that God is all merciful and that there is no wickedness that God cannot forgive . Of course the perpetrator must be truly remorseful and atone according to the gravity of the sin. Without these considerations and conditions mercy is neither deserved nor bestowed. To err is human…to forgive is Divine. I am just a flawed human.. there are things I could never forgive….
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Beautiful. We must all learn to forgive.
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An interesting question, to be sure! And yet, I’m not sure, mercy is not shown, based on the mercy shown by others?
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Indeed, mercy feeds on itself and once it is manifest, it grows.
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