I had completely missed this villanelle, so I am grateful to Kinnera Priya Putti for drawing my attention to it.

This is masterful, Aide Ojigbede; I knew immediately which famous poem you referred to, and you have given the poet’s concept such a dark turn that I feel quite sad about the idea of growing old, now.

The villanelle is my favourite form, or at least one of them — so I can be quite fussy about them. And yours, my friend, is wonderful. I’m sorry for not reading it sooner.