Listen lassies to my story,
laddies’ lend your fervent ears,
Indeed this tale of love and loss,
shall leave you not without a tear.
Once upon a distant time,
upon a far more distant soil,
There was misfortune so severe,
your tender hearts shall soon recoil
Where silent mist doth swathe the rills,
And heather scent the frigid air,
There dwelt a knight of gallant fame
throughout the bonny highlands fair.
His honor and his valor,
no living man a match could claim,
A knight possessed by chivalry,
Sir Oscar wert his name.
There was a maiden, blithe was she,
a Celtic princess fine,
No angel held a light to she,
nor goddess beauty more divine,
Her laughter was like songbirds call,
her song a cherub’s sigh,
And for Melvina, loved by all,
any man would gladly die.
And yet her hand was spoken for,
Sir Oscar held her heart,
A match ordained at heavens dawn,
two lovers who did seldom part,
Until one day a herald,
unto the castle grave news bore,
The land was soon to be devoured
by pestilence and war.
To arms Sir Oscar swiftly flew,
to fight for Scotland grand,
And soon departed for the foe,
to fight for his ancestrial land.
With one last kiss and token fair,
he rode on towards the fight,
As Melvina watched her one true love,
ride far into the gloomy night.
For long no word did reach the keep,
to tell how Oscar faired,
No rumors of his bravery
or victory ore' the death he dared.
So Melvina waited on the hills
and looked out unto the seas.
“When shall the world be rid of war
and return my love to me?”
One day while on that hillside,
as Melvina and her father spoke,
A warrior staggered towards them,
in broken mail and bloodied cloak,
He handed her a tiny sprig,
of purple heather bloom,
And whispered of the final words
within her true loves doom.
“He passed your name upon his lips,
no other name he praised,
As highly as his princess fair,
nor mentioned any other maid.
He sent by way of me dear girl,
this fairest token true,
A final declaration
of his never ending love for you.”
Melvina grasped the heather bloom
unto her breathless chest,
This proof of adoration,
emblem of love that knew no rest.
She hastened from her fathers side,
and dashed over the mound,
And when was from her father’s sight,
fell lifeless to the ground.
where her dismal tears did fall,
there grew more heather bright,
And when her tears did touch the flower,
they turned it purest white.
“may this fair bloom, my mark of doom,
fortune to its finder give,
And evermore be blessing,
to those who still desire to live.”
To this day the heather white,
a sign of luck hath stayed,
And dons the gowns of maidens fair
upon their wedding day,
Sign of fortune and of blessing
to the lovers as they wed,
And reverence for the living souls,
who’s loves have joined the ranks of dead.
Author notes
C. Abigail Bernard
This write is written from the legend of Oscar and Melvina as the origin of the lucky white heather worn in scottish weddings by the bride
A contest entry
- The Slain Dreamer by Ayla YellowRose.
1600 points, ended September 20, 2007, 30 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give me your best fantasy number 2! by Lively Matter.
625 points, ended December 15, 2007, 14 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - My Heart's in the Highlands by Aerlynne.
450 points, ended September 2, 2008, 14 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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Oooh! I have a new legend to research!! *dances* I've never heard this one, but I tend to collect the supernatural lore. However you portray this one so beautifully that I just have to add it! Must away to research!
Thank you so much for entering, I truly enjoyed this, and not just because it gave me a new legend to find. Best of luck!
~ Kit -
This is a well written piece.
I truly like it.
I can't pick out my favorite part
because there are too many.
Thank you for entering and good luck!
♥
~Princess of Shadows~ -
An epic rhyme
and a fine romantic story. It carries a lot of weight with it. I enjoyed this lover's story. A reminder of how 'true love' changes all. Thank you for this wonderful read.
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sad... a sad poem but a fantastic written lovely one, i loved it very much, i loved the imagery in this poem thank you for entering it
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Wonderful
What a fastastic story teller you are - and now you've made me jealous.
You have the lilt and sound of that old English, as it were, and it's so pleasant and a joy to read. Well done, ma'am. You're a credit to your name indeed.
Paul
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Fantastic, I have a necklace made from heather that I got in Scotland. I hadn't heard this legend while there but I'm glad you shared it! Good luck in contest!
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Awesome!!
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very well written
You capture the legend of the lucky white heather, very well in this poem. It flows smoothly throughout, and your imagery is done very well.
Thank you for entering this contest, and good luck.
Ethereal Melody
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