Night Vigil - an Imayo

Writers' Pantry 61 

 

Late into the night I wait, I pace up and down.

The hall carpet wearing thin, wooden boards show through

where I tread all too often; will you make it home?

This may be the night you don’t, so I keep vigil.

 

©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved

 

Comments

  1. This is a new form for me and I like it! Well done.

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    1. New to me too. I am writing different poetry forms for the A to Z April Challenge next month, and imayo is for I. I had two, so used on today. I like it better than the one for April.

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  2. I am glad that periods of intense worry like that have been blessedly few in my life.

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    Replies
    1. That's good to hear. "Few" is probably what most of us have had.

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  3. Oh, you put me right there with you. What is most heart-wrenching is that this happens 'all too often'.

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    Replies
    1. Now that you say that, reading it makes me nervous!

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  4. a new form to me.
    perhaps this short form makes the suspense more palpable.

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  5. I too get concerned. If a child I never went to bed until he/she is home.
    If my mate, I cannot sleep by myself anymore, I'll wait and pace too.
    You did well with the Imayo. I have seen it before, with a different name, seven and five syllables alternating. I think there may be a rhyme, writers choice anymore.
    ..

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    Replies
    1. I'm doing poetry forms next month for the A to Z Blogger Challenge, and what I found for Imayo was...
      Japanese, originally sung, high voice
      4 lines
      12 syllables in each line
      Pause after first 7 in each line (dash, comma, spaces)

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  6. For families that are punctual any delay is a real worry. At least we have mobile phones these days that can ease the anxiety.

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    1. That's true, if they think to use them. I didn't have a particular reason the person was late, but it could be a husband who regularly stays out late in bars and drives home drunk. I never had that worry. I do worry though, I like punctuality, especially at night.

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  7. I hope the person made it home.

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    1. It sounds like they have in the past, but there's always that first time.

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  8. Takes me to my little girl days getting anxious when my dad got late. "...the night you don't" was a twist there!

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    1. It's so scary for a child, they aren't quite sure about things as it is.

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