I have stood guardian
Through trials untold
In each frozen season,
Seen empires built and burned,
To those who sought on lonely roads
I have stood guardian,
In loves repaid or spurned
The growth and wilting of the rose
In each frozen season,
I’ve outlasted centurions,
stayed strong while rights erode;
I have stood guardian
When humans lost reason
And extended the cold
In each frozen season,
When they must wrestle with the sun
If plagues and wrongs unfold,
I have stood guardian
In each frozen season.
Antonia Sara Zenkevitch
The above owes thanks to two generous poets. One being Sue Vincent’s and her latest #writephoto prompt and the other being Sonya Annita Song and her past Villanelle Challenge.
Antonia Sara Zenkevitch 
Lovely, Antonia, although it echoes the dark edges of humanity’s risk.
I particularly liked the lines, “The growth and wilting of the rose
In each frozen season,”.
Thank you, Sue. Yes, there is a shadow in the poem. I was drawn to the idea of the stone playing both guardian and witness.
As they do, Antonia. You only have to stand in their presence…
Yes!
I do like this especially the stanza
Seen empires built and burned,
To those who sought on lonely roads
I have stood guardian,
🙂 xx
I often wonder what such things see or witness over the ages. I like the idea of guardian and witness.
I feel they hold a resonance of a collective us, and of the times they have stood through.
Yes–old rocks–and trees.
absolutely
You have captured what so many cannot see. How one thing can be through it all while others lose all sight of what is in front of them.
What a beautiful comment, thank you, Michele!
I like your poem a lot. There is something about standing stones that reminds us of the bigger picture and of the huge cycles of time that sweep through eternity.
Thank you, Suzanne. Yes, I agree with you about the timlessness of standing stones and how they help us see the bigger picture. The photo was an excellent #writephoto prompt from Sue Vincent.
Yes, I have responded to this #writephoto too. It really spoke to me as well.
A great story 💜
🙂 x
💜