A rider from across the mountains came
To seek an entry though the hour was late
Her cloak was tattered and her horse was lame
Her mailed fist hammered at the castle gate
“Haro! Haro!” – that was her urgent cry
No more she said that could reveal her suit
The castle’s weeping walls stood dumbly by
No merriment was heard nor sound of lute
The chilling Mistral then began to rise
The mere was seething with a yellow mist
She cursed as biting drizzle filled her eyes
The gate once more resounded to her fist
I’ll show you where this castle stood my friends
I heard this tale but know not how it ends.
Author notes
One mystery of this poem is why a rider's words are a traditional cry for the aid of a prince, from the Channel Islands, but the castle is clearly in the south of France, by the evidence of the Mistral.....
Written March 10th, 2006
In a list
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What did you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Melodies, every poet has a muse, if he or she knows where to look. Mine lives far away from my little teepee atop Schiehallion...
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Thank you Iohagh - I will keep on hammering away with my mailed fist?
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Again, you enchant!
You end the poem letting us guess what's next and I like that very much. I do that in my kiddie "Little Mary" poems and it's fun to do and fun to read. I like poems in this setting very much! You have a muse for this!
waaaaaaa! I WANNA MUSE, TOO! Newspaper writers don't have muses. We just build stuff with words.
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And with such sonnets sweet you begin the attack of her heart upon the keep. Go on girl. Enchant with your muse.
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LOL trust you to get turned on by this! You're incorrigible! I am glad you liike it. If chicks in armour is your thing, check out my "Across the wild moor to the wilder mere".
Thank you very much for stopping by, and for appreciating this little piece.
M -
Excellent
I'm enchanted by the effortless flow of your knowledge, and captivated by the resounding historical antiquity you bring to life. (And a chick riding w/mail is great mind candy) I think I could sit and listen (or read) many a tale told by you. -
What art!
Sounds like a medieval song...Have you ever been in Scotland?
Your name reminds me of Mary, Queen of Scots. -
I shall take the likening to "The Listeners" as a compliment. Yes, de la Mare was at the back of my mind, I guess, but there I was today, at tea-break, footling about with the sonnet form again. Thank you so much for being so complimentary about it (and the others)
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Great Stuff
Although its meaning may be too esoteric for this American, I loved this poem and could not help thinking of de la Mare's "The Listeners". This is an absolutely superb sonnet, as, indeed, are all of your sonnets. Great Stuff!
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1 - 9 of 9
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