In the Valley of 2025 – Villanelle by Margaret D Stetz
In the bright calm of a meadow, an unshakable presence closes in.
In In the Valley of 2025 by Margaret D Stetz, even the brightest meadow cannot escape a relentless shadow that follows without end. Read it now on Written Tales—submissions open.
even in the greenest meadow where I flee to bathe in sun I turn to face that looming shadow it stalks, it hunts—determined shadow with driving hunger never done even in the greenest meadow silence falls across the meadow, a confrontation—one-to-one I turn to face that looming shadow there is no way to stop the shadow no words can help—no gate, no gun even in the greenest meadow did I hope the shelter of a meadow might mean this battle could be won? I turn to face that looming shadow the brightest beams all fade, they narrow (Darkness cannot be outrun) even in the greenest meadow I turn to face that looming shadow
✍️ About the Authors
Margaret D. Stetz is the Mae and Robert Carter Professor of Women's Studies at the University of Delaware.
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