The Maid of the Hesperus

a stilted homage to Longfellow

http://www.bartleby.com/42/777.html

The Maid of the Hesperus

On wintry nights the mariners sing 
Of tales such as these 
The sound of a fair maid crying 
Carried on November’s breeze

On moonless nights along the shore
Where plaintive surf does sigh
A chill will set in the bones of those
Who hear her mournful cry

Beware good men who ride the waves
Should you hear young maiden fair
Set a new course for open sea 
Lest frigid death find you there

She drifts alone on storm frothed waves 
Icicle tears form round her eyes
Her frigid embrace a sailor’s death 
When winters wrath fills the skies

Alas fair maid of the Hesperus 
Her spirit a slave to the wretched sea
The deep no kind of resting place 
For a beauty such as thee

Beware good men who ride the waves
Should you hear young maiden fair
Set a new course for open sea 
Lest frigid death find you there

TL Boehm 2007

 dedicated to Longfellow... 

Reviews

[Brown Bull]

Well, as a bull in the middle of a farm in Mississippi, you might imagine that I don't get to the sea very often, much less ride on her, but who has to be there when you have transported us with these beautiful words like 'wintry' and 'plaintive surf.' I think I will have to read some Longfellow... but why?

[TL Boehm]

How NICE to see you again. Its been awhile I'm actually a bit landlocked and beefy myself. But I can dream...

[Brown Bull]

When the Cafe crashed, I had everything on my computer and lost no work, but I know what you mean about losing your work. There was a recovery method available if I remember. I'm still friends on Facebook with some old Cafe friends, but over here we have to create something, not just re post pictures of shelter cats. I’m not always a bull, and am here in my human form as well. I have some children’s stories posted and some Christian stuff. I see that you are into genealogy… did you happen to see any of the recent “Finding your roots” shows?

[TL Boehm]

Yes, I recoveed some work - they used the google snap shot crawlers. I still lost maybe 20 odd posts and a couple of poems - one I rewrote. I'm on ye ole FB too but I still love coming here. Time is just not my friend right now - and I've seen a couple of the "Who Do you think you are" shows. They are fascinating.

[Mark D]

I think this is a tremendous piece of writing. Haunting in a way.

Glad I stumbled upon it!

[Cord Moreski]

Wow, This is brilliant Tammy. I love the use of imagery and transitions you used in this piece. When I read this, I could picture the sea in my head. This is really great,keep up the good work.:)

-Cord

[An Ordinary Woman]

Excellent Tammy!

And you my friend, are inspiring too. I haven't been on much but writing like this is soooo worth the trip. An awesome piece!

[Amelie]

I love how you've written this piece, the voice successfully captured the almost folk and and fable- like genre, a keen attempt on the imagery and a lovely close to a classic bedtime tale.

[Tate Morgan]

beautiful just beautiful

[Tomás Ó C..]

Yes, David has to be the Laurate of the Café, and your not too far behind yourself with this effort!!! Fantasti read...

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

magnificent work... lead us not into temptation or we shall drown in sin.

[Jake@jake]

This excellent. I admire anyone skilled in verse, and you have it.

[Fairytale]

Amazing poem! You are truly talented. The imagery was so smooth and engaging. I almost felt there. The words were short and sweet, (as opposed to long and drawn out). This poem contained well-versed scenes. Thank you for such an entertaining read.