His sweetheart, she rose early, one bright and sunny morn,
the sheep were in the meadow, and golden glowed the corn.
At a weekly Wednesday market, she had many wares to sell,
for she would buy a wedding gown, some satin shoes as well.
Just yesterday he’d bid her, “Will you marry me next spring?
Mary, quite contrary, say you’ll wear my wedding ring?”
A smile as sweet as cherry-pie she gave to him that day,
he’d said be sure to hurry back, but be careful on the way.
Before she turned the corner, he a kiss to her did blow,
she tossed her curls and waved to him, in her hair, a yellow bow;
on the handlebar, a basket, full of produce she had grown
in her pretty cottage garden from the seeds that she had sown.
Like the wind she sped to market, seemed her bicycle could fly;
church-bells chimed, choir-boys sang as she sat there on cloud nine,
but alas, her trip to market was to reach a tragic end,
an errant sheep strayed on the road as she sharply turned the bend.
Poor Mary, cycle, flowers and all, came tumbling down that day;
her yellow ribbon at her feet, she lay lifeless on the hay.
In a tiny church upon the hill, on his knees he sobbed and prayed,
and swore his life he’d give for hers, then he heard her call his name.
“My garden must be full right now of sunflowers and sweet peas.
Prithee, take them to the market and do with them as you please?”
So he took her wicker basket, filled it full of flowers she’d grown,
for to reap the final harvest from the seeds that she had sown;
to a beggar at the market he gave the flowers away,
and bought a crimson rose-bush to adorn her simple grave…
Beneath a haystack, sat and wept, as golden glowed the dawn;
the sheep were in the meadow and the cows were in the corn,
and through his tears he saw her face and heard her softly say,
“My heart shall break if you should go. Promise me you’ll stay?”
He gave to her his solemn word that a vigil he would keep;
no food or water touched his lips as he drifted into sleep,
and by her side was laid to rest where a crimson rose-bush grows…
where a yellow ribbon hangs forlorn, as the north wind gently blows.
Comments
Beeme | November 28, 2009 - 16:55
This is extremely beautiful and clever. A great take on the IP, I really enjoyed.
I love this stanza especially:
'Beneath a haystack sat and wept, as golden glowed the dawn;
the sheep were in the meadow and the cows were in the corn,
and through his tears he saw her face and heard her softly say,
“My heart shall break if you should go. Promise me you’ll stay?”'
Beeme xx
Lady-Bathsheba | November 28, 2009 - 17:11
I think this is poignant and beautiful. So vividly descriptive. You raised the bar with this one :)
Silver Spun Sand | November 28, 2009 - 17:16
Can't thank you enough, Beeme. I literally tore my hair out writing this one - worth it all though to hear you enjoyed it;-)
Tina xx
Silver Spun Sand | November 28, 2009 - 17:17
I found this poem a great challenge and your words mean much. Thank you, Lady-Bathsheba;-)
MistakenMagic | November 28, 2009 - 17:22
I can really tell how much love and effort you've put into this one Tina and it has really paid off! I love the gentle rhythm and repetition that carries the poem along. A wonderful take on the IP, Tina!
Magic xxx
Cavalcaderl | November 28, 2009 - 17:42
new Silver-spun-sand
This is brilliantly woven
to-gether,and story
beginning and end to it.
everything.Your make IP
I have been scribbling
2 days now and then having go,
now I see one or two have what I
try to connect in mine!
names Nursery Rhymes to weave.
so may just plug it on soon.
I'ts bit ridiculous
like me. Your's is great.I have small
'Boy Blue! picture love it!
julie x cavalcader (:-
Silver Spun Sand | November 28, 2009 - 18:21
Hey, Magic ... hope you are still on that wonderful high of yesterday;-)
Thank you so much for reading and I am so glad you liked it and even more glad you told me so.
Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | November 28, 2009 - 18:25
Julie - I know exactly the picture you speak of -
'Blue Boy' by Gainsborough. I wonder if you have the original;-)
I shall look forward to reading your 'Nursery Rhyme';-) and thank you for reading mine.
Tina x
Cavalcaderl | November 30, 2009 - 14:40
Silver-Spun-Sand
julie: Yes your right is
a Gainsborough as have a
cheap market book on whose
who! don't know One is in Blue
velvet suit, and one is crossed leg in
reddy pink velvet, nothing to state who
they are.Well love you to read Amalgamated
nursery rhyme called it.It's more like a 'Micardo'
mad mum an I started to do in church hall!if one was in had to sell so many ticktes before being allowed in show.name Iv'e left out.
needs' punctuation and corrections.Poem.
Yours just re-read amazing and brilliant
the way you put it into story.
My brain:-what brain! gets distorted.
Especially TV on and Ray.s here.I can
switch of h/aid though.Who what is your
favourite picture.Was going out and Ray
no wind to drafty,to look at light fittings,
works out they weren't open.
Glad said no!
Daughter buy us be lovely, so dark low energy bulbs.
looking foreward comments on all the mistakes, on mine wrong? and what idiot has tried to blend nursery rhymes to-gether me? as IP this week.
julie xx
luigi_pagano | November 30, 2009 - 17:50
I see that you were off the mark pretty sharply, dear Tina. I had a germ of an idea but could not develop it until this morning as we had a family reunion at the weekend. But that's enough about me.
As always you come up with the goods, exquisite and ripe enough for the deserved cherry. Enjoyed it.
Love, Luigi xxx
Silver Spun Sand | November 30, 2009 - 18:05
Dear Luigi - I do so hope you enjoyed your family reunion;-)
I must take a peek at your offering for the IP, which I am just about to do.
And, speaking of things 'exquisite and ripe, I shall take my leave of you, dear Luigi;-)
Love, Tina xxx
Beeme | November 30, 2009 - 21:23
well done on the cherry, Tina.
Beeme xx
Silver Spun Sand | November 30, 2009 - 21:29
Beeme - thank you, so very much for popping back to tell me;-) Much appreciated.
Tina xx
Cavalcaderl | November 30, 2009 - 23:24
new Silver-Spun-Sand
Sorry switched on again
before going bed.
Many congratulations on new cherry!
It was brilliant story followed through
so clever and inspiration to all particularly
me.It was amazing how you made it all connect
so perfect acceptional story and rhyme character in it.Don't forget to Shimmy! x
julie x cavalcader (:-
Silver Spun Sand | November 30, 2009 - 23:50
Thanks Julie. You picked up on the rhyming... not many people did, so ten out of ten for you!
And I wont' forget to Shimmy...as and when;-)xx
Nathan Bednarek | December 1, 2009 - 22:30
Amazing. Such a wonderfully crafted poem. Everything in it, from rhythm to imagery, rhyme to structure, is just perfectly crafted. You obviously put a lot of work into this poem. Thank you for sharing it with us. Well done.
Nathan xox
Silver Spun Sand | December 1, 2009 - 23:55
You have no idea how much your comments meant to me, Nathan. You are right. I first started work on this poem, eight years ago, and finally, on Sunday this week, it just seemed to 'click'. As a fellow writer, I know you will understand what I mean;-)
Thank you again.
Tina xox