OSI: Beginning

Every story has its once upon a time.
Every Adam gets an Eve.
Retelling the beginning is no crime.

The hope of newness is so fine,
even seen from endings grieve.
Every story has its once upon a time.

Though the narrative has run its ragged line
and joy has long since taken leave,
retelling the beginning is no crime.

I can hear the bells of mourning chime
and feel the whole begin to cleave
but every story has its once upon a time.

Once the dawn was yours and mine
and sunlight filtered to us through the green of leaves.
Retelling the beginning is no crime.

Dusk falls now like a rain of bitter brine
and dead leaves are no sunlight sieve
but every story has its once upon a time
and retelling our beginning is no crime.

Note: I wanted to try a formal form again and it has been a while since I wrote a villanelle. I was thinking about how we, as women, often remember that first date long after the men have forgotten it and how sometimes it seems like we have to conjure it back up in conversation, to remind our partners how we got here. More OSI Here.