villanelle.

an old man can surely stand
upon a wooden stool
while he paints his door by hand

"get down!" his sisters command
and he calls each one a fool
an old man can surely stand

he asks his wife for peaches, canned
instead, she hands him a bowl of gruel
while he paints his door by hand

"dear wife, you are so grand
but i need food better than that to refuel."
an old man can surely stand

she replies, "dear husband, we must disband
for you are a man so cruel."
while he paints his door by hand

alone in a life soon to be bland
he steps off his wooden stool
an old man can surely stand
while he paints his door by hand