The Stolen Gift and the Sea

The tale of Tristam and Isolde

Ill fated

from the beginning

a love cursed

with distance and fate

brought upon by nothing

but a stolen gift and the sea

 

The Irish Lady

and the English Knight

both fair of face and heart

but foolish of mind

a fool's mind

made stubborn

by a stolen gift and the sea

 

Another's prize

taken before it was given

a wife allready tied

by a ribbon of lust

and continually cutting the rope

that bound her fast in marriage

a bond cut before it was tied

by a stolen gift and the sea

 

A secret way

through meadow and wood

upon which two pairs of feet fall

running swiftly

from one way to the other

a driving compulsion

brought on

by a stolen gift and the sea

 

A stolen kiss

a fervent embrace

by light of a waning moon

and clouded stars

which still give light enough

to the eyes that witness

what was brought on

by a stolen gift and the sea

 

Anger and tears

flow freely now

engulfing the mind

of an injured pride

and a forsaken love

love that tried to be true

but was merely one sided

and so exposed

the heart of a king

and the fool's pact made

by a stolen gift and the sea

 

A banishment to desolation

the place that once was home

but it is now sunless, cheerless

the ribbon strained

over miles and leagues

now being beseiged

by rivalry and pain

but then drawn together

within the hatred of man

that is war

Yet now severed by death

and a broken spell

that bond made of nothing

but a stolen gift and the sea...

 

 

Author's Note

Notes for those not familiar with the story:
Tristan was an English knight who was sent to Ireland to fetch the princess Isolde for his uncle to marry. On the way back to England, they drank a love potion that was supposed to be a gift for the English King, and it made them fall madly in love with eachother. Even after Isolde married the King, they kept on meeting until they were discovered by the King. The King was distraught and banished Tristam, who was later killed in a battle, where Isolde found him; she died of sadness, and the potion's spell broke.