The Villa in Durrës, a Poem by Joy Nevin Axelson

Old Villa by Vern Fein

The villa lies in shambles,

a woman ravaged, spent,

stripped of beauty, usefulness,

abandoned to lament.

Her pink veneer is peeling,

her tiles cracked and scratched.

Her floors by waters damaged,

her pergolas unthatched.

Her curves are caving in now,

her arches dipping down.

Pillaged by both sun and sea,

a queen’s corroding crown.

Her inner strength and prowess, though,

cannot be wrecked by years.

Nor can her haughty stature

evaporate her tears.

Designs of geometrics

have settled on her face.

And though unclothed with curtains

her pillars stand with grace.

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Joy Nevin Axelson, of West Chicago, has authored over 85 published poems. Her debut devotional book, 52 Life Lessons I Learned the Stupid Way: Meaty Devotionals for Mature Christians, is available on Amazon and from IngramSpark. She holds a BA and an MA in French (from UIUC and from UCSB). She’s the translation coordinator for GlobalFingerprints, a child sponsorship charity. She enjoys traveling, birdwatching, and playing nerdy board games with her husband and young adult children.