Pete's Sunflower (a villanelle)

Pete’s Sunflower

He was a sweet and heavy-burden man,

traipsing slow burn, as dawn across the floor.

His handsome head gazed sad since worlds began.

Gravid with a life full borne.  His dead pan

dignified grace shewed, all agreed, at core,

he was a sweet and heavy-burden man.

He bent and furrowed, seed in gentle hand.

Companion true to life’s longing. In awe

his handsome head gazed sad since worlds began.

A full-swelled bloom grew, faith to nature’s plan,

laden, reaching up as he dragged down, for

he was a sweet and heavy-burden man.

Pete’s body had lain long in graven land

when cumbrous gilt was fain to stoop. No more

his handsome head gazed sad since worlds began.

With autumn sigh, it fell to hoar earth and

scattered seeds as memory dreams before.

He was a sweet and heavy-burden man.

His handsome head gazed sad since worlds began.