There In No Heaven While You Live On Earth

A poem from a little while back, which I had posted on my old blog, is here for my own archival purposes.

This villanelle won 1st place in the Grade 11-12 Poetry category of the Stamford Literary Competition.

All else, despair! Her smile exceeds your worth.
What other source of pleasure shall I seek?
There is no Heaven while you live on Earth.
All men desire their happiness from birth.
All learn of love, and most, for love, shall seek.
All else, despair! Her smile exceeds your worth.
See, eyes; hear, ears. Her face: her joy bring forth!
Can I call up the curving of your cheek?
There is no Heaven while you live on Earth.
But even if her grin is common mirth,
And that reserved for me is not unique,
All else, despair! Her smile exceeds your worth.
If all your sweet light steps cross Gaea’s girth
To help another scale Olympus’ peak,
There is no Heaven while you live on Earth.
I value you in plenty and in dearth.
And when I, moonlike, at her joy can peek,
All else, despair! Her smile exceeds your worth.
There is no Heaven while you live on Earth.