Discreet Blues Villanelle

By Tim Seibles

Mostly, I keep my terror discreet —
Try not to think about death all the time
But sometimes I think I might die in my sleep

Got my eyes closed, but I might take a peek
Been tellin myself that it’s gonna be fine
That’s how I keep my terror discreet

You do what you can to maintain your mystique
To be here or not: there’s such a fine line
(Who ever said I won’t die in my sleep? )

Ever feel like your soul sprung a leak —
And wander around touchin stuff like you’re blind?
My mom always kept her terror discreet

I try to be like her: that stoic, that sweet
Why not shut–up and just scream like a mime?
But how do you know who might die in your sleep?

This war in Ukraine got me feelin oblique
I think I see why people pray all the time
They’re tryin to keep the terror discreet

Don’ wanna surrender, but I gotta retreat
I’ll hide in the words that burn up my mind
How else can I keep this madness discreet?

Might just give up and go live on the street
Or get me a Rolls and sip a good wine

That way I’d keep my terror discreet
But what’ll I do if I die in my sleep?