their eyes

The hurricane came, it came towards us.
I was so scared I couldn’t breathe.
But we decided to stay and sit in the must.

The hurricane came, it came towards us,
but we had everything we would need
and I was with Teacake, the one I trust.

The hurricane came, it came towards us.
I sat on the bed while Teacake took the lead
and I was with Teacake, the one I trust.

The hurricane came, it came towards us.
The water came and we couldn’t breathe.
The water came through and the window busted.

The hurricane came, it came towards us,
But I was with Teacake, the one I trust.
We decided to stay and sit in the must.

The hurricane came, it came towards us.
I was so scared I couldn’t breathe.
The water came through and the window busted.
I was with Teacake, the one I trust.

by Desiree Williams

Written in Joslyn Wolfe’s English 11.

Assignment: Students were asked to identify the structure and organization of a villanelle. They then wrote a villanelle as a way to interpret and respond critically to aspects of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.