Original painting by Renelle Sommerville (Ishtar)
The thunder rolls o’er Drumdale Castle’s walls,
While Princess Eliandra hides within.
All day she did but pace the darkened halls,
And face her morbid fears and deep chagrin.
Afraid that she a lifetime virgin be,
While cloistered in her frigid tower cell,
“O please,” she sobs, “won’t someone rescue me?”
Then wails with bitter sobs that naught can quell.
A princess, she, and yet in sadness clad,
With hope flown up like well burned, sullied ash.
Take heed fair princess, seek no royal lad,
For you tonight shall hide from lightning’s flash
Not knowing that, now perched in yonder tree,
A pirate scalawag has eyes for thee.
~~~ ** ~~~
Well drenched by rain and chilled by biting wind,
More used to seas where sunlit warmth prevails.
Her virtue sought by he who oft has sinned,
And languished many days in rat filled jails.
He saw her at the fair on yestermorn,
And swore that she be his by next full moon.
This figment of his mind be fancy borne;
He’ll steal her off and not a day too soon.
Her sobs are heard, their sound a wrenching call.
She needs her knight, a liege of noble birth.
Our sodden lad be fresh returned from Gaul,
Without a steed nor tools of any worth.
Our sir, half drowned, retreats forthwith to think,
His plan, soon hatched, has but one missing link.
~~~ ** ~~~
Yet high amidst the gray, forbidding walls,
Her suff’ring soul could see no end in sight.
But at the bridge, a tattered woolen shawl,
Disguises he who would reverse her plight.
His pirate hair, now loosed as sloven locks
Stands him in stead of she whose cape he stole.
Amidst the courtyard cobbles rise the stocks
Where he might stand condemned by his vain role.
He shudders once, then courage swells his chest.
With downcast eyes he moves, a shuff’ling gait.
Obsessed that no one now may stay his quest,
The pirate Driftwood totters toward his fate.
He slips inside, unseen, and climbs the stair
While Eliandra paces, unaware.
~~~ ** ~~~
Good fortune smiles upon our scalawag,
Ignored by guards he feared might importune.
A knock, the princess sees a bent o’er hag.
His head thrown back, a shriek, and then a swoon.
His arms hold fast to she he’d only seen,
And heartbeat’s sound doth echo through the hall.
Her now closed eyes, quick seen, glowed em’rald green.
Escape he must, and face what’ere befall.
He gathers up his prize, his princess fair,
Her head against his chest, he barely breathes.
Her pallid cheek, a gentle kiss left there,
What ecstasy and joy it doth bequeath.
With tenderness and hope he’s at the door
And leans on luck and faith and nothing more.
~~~ ** ~~~
Alas, as though a magic spell be cast,
All those he meets have somehow turned their back.
The precious bundle moans as he slips past,
But naught diverts him from his chosen track.
He’s at the gate, the yeoman stand their guard,
Amongst the sounds sweet music fills the air.
A melody of lyre and roving bard,
Our scalawag slides by, they’re unaware.
Just then he hears a voice, can it be her?
And feels warm breath against his wind-worn ear.
Reality becomes a dazzling blurr,
And soon, he thinks, the angels will appear.
“Kind sir,” she says, “know what you do is wrong.
Yet I am helpless but to go along.”
~~~ ** ~~~
Enchantment holds them fast along the road,
Her weight a feather’s touch against strong arms.
The pirate has become her much-kissed toad,
Her shining knight of bold, redemptive charms.
Fine fingers fold the cover from her face.
“What knight is this who wears a woolen shawl?”
“A pirate maid, who has no veil of lace,
Who only wished to be my lady’s thrall.”
“A handsome pirate lad ye be indeed,”
As blushing cheeks glow pink as budded rose.
“Make haste, my liege, lest someone intercede,
And take me where the southeast trade wind blows.
You’ve saved me, sir, and not a day too soon,”
She says while gazing at the bright full moon.
Author notes
This is my 12th collaboration with Reni and this time I wrote and she painted. She's remarkable and I'll keep writing as long as she keeps painting.
In the summer, Reni returns to England and has, as she's had for years, a booth at a medieval village where she is Princess Eliandra of Drumdale Castle. Thus the idea for the poem began as she told me about this.
Thanks so very much grandaughter!
In a list
A contest entry
- make me feel better--write about love or something funny (now open for prewrites) by Viyanna Rosemarie.
300 points, ended December 11, 2007, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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magnificent. . .
that's about all I can say, poet. I love this. Completely. The illustration is beautiful and and background marvelous, and it's all. . .splendid. Excellent, friend poet, excellent tale you've penned here.
♠ Lady Elinor
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Wonderful piece of work here, Great job, flows nilcey. Keep writting!!
~ Chelsey
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Magnificent piece of work!!!! I love your story here... as I read I felt I was there!!!!! The words chosen were perfect. Thank you for sharing this piece with us.... It is very enjoyable, to say the least!!
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This is an amazing story, there is nothing missing, it is so perfect. I can picture everything, and your words carry the reader along with them.
I love how the story is so beautiful, and so unlikely to happen in a world like this, i can't help loving it. I couldn't stop reading once i had begun.
Holly.
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Outstanding
I have never read such an alluring epic in my life! Quite a masterpiece if I do say so myself. The story follows the picture to the T, and is remarkably smooth flowing for such a long string of verses. Well done, and my compliments to the artist.
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Nice to see something ambitious like this.
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excellent piece
well, all i can say is, i was the princess and you must have been the pirate. such a wonderful tale told by your pen i love this type of poem and you have given me inspiration. please do another one.
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This is great. Congrats on the gold!
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I think it's funny that you've used a scottish castle for an english poem...tee hee...
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what tale you've weaved within those hearts of fantasy where knights rescue damsels in distress and love reigns over all!
yes I did enjoy this my friend!
Keep penning on one stroke at a time!
Bill
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That is so cool! I love the vocabulary and rythym, and I love the fact that it includes pirates. I think I need to read more of your work!
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Well done. I like the medeival period and poetry. You've done a good job here. I look forward to more of your poems.
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Wonderful rhyth, rhyme and flow in these lines - nice to read this love story through poetry. Easy to read and understand what this is all about here. Lovely picture as well. Am sure you could have continued this story and written a novel in poetry if you had to. Way to go.
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WONDERFUL
It's been awhile since anyone came out with a good original love story... It's beautifully written I would not change a thing about it. Keep writing, Keep living.
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the painting is amazing!! and so is the piece that goes with it. it was a little commical in parts, but a very romantic piece. long for my taste, but i am glad i have read it. i love how you put it into the old lingo and forever grateful for that. it sets the mood just right. thanks for sharing and hope the pens, quills, and brushes keep flowing.
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good job
perfect picture and verse
adventurous, intriguing
i can remember a movie years ago, i believe, with the same title
enjoyable read
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I really don't know how anyone can write such a long story poem, I have tried before but can't seem to master the art of it!!
I liked your use of old style english in this piece it was quite effective in making it standout out and adding to its quaintness. I image that it took quite an effort to put this one together.
That being ssid I do have to say at times I felt that you sacrificed the strength of your story for the rhyme of the poem. I did not read the poem out loud as an eariler comment suggested but I might to see if I find the rhyme more effective in doing this.
Also I would have liked to see some sort of a plight presented towards your characters, by this I mean I found the escape of the princess and priate rather disapointing, the pieces of it fell together to nicely merely by chance.
But again I say I admire the talent it took to put this poem together. -
Okay, a couple of things.... 1, I LOVE the name of the princes!! BEAUTIFUL! I want to name my daughter that now! 2, The ending was perfect. I loved the last 2 lines. 3, This was a very beautiful and entertaining poem! I loved it! The way you told the story was perfect. Great job Grandpa! I love you and this poem! As always!
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What a wonderful tale spun in a masterful way.Anyone who looks and see a long piece and does not stop to read will never know what they miss. I had in mind when reading an old song i heard as a kid
I think it was called something like The Raggle Taggle Gypsies
Excellent
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beautiful
Read aloud it is absolutely beautiful - I love the words, the imagery, the story...everything!
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Masterpiece
This is spectacular in more ways than one! I have only but several times occasioned to endeavor a work like this, but it never turns out so stunning as a masterpiece such as this. This is brilliant stuff, excellently penned with a wonderful story. Keep it up!
Dan
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beautiful
I love this poetic story. It's romantic! Keep on writing! I also like Reni's painting. -
Well,this heart throbbing tale of romance novel persuasions was an exciting read/tale of old story.Bravo,it's a great piece.
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flawless
Totally professional in every way. Absolutely delightful. As good as it gets.
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Those pirates!!
The ladies always seem to like them. I enjoyed the heroic, oldfashioned tone of this write
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Oh, my! Lookit you being all artsy. Teehee.
I love this. Of course, you already knew that, so please excuse my redundancy.
We really make an awesome team, mister.
Love ya!
-Reni
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