The Japanese Stone Lantern

A villanelle for William Segal

Above the lake the mist of morning breathes
silence like incense honoring our friend
across the water, underneath the leaves.

He showed us how the silence interweaves
unrecognized the booming world of sound
as over the lake the mist of morning breathes.

Not one of us who watch in silence grieves,
seeing where his ancient lantern stands
across the water, underneath the leaves.

We feel him all around us in our lives
whenever we stop and fold our busy hands
or over the lake the mist of morning breathes.

And when we come here, each one as he leaves
turns and sees the timeless lantern stand
beyond the mist and feels his silence breath
across the water, underneath the leaves.

–Martha Heyneman