An Un-Fairytale

the prince, it seems, has vanquished me --

made not a bride out of this flesh, but

a bested opponent -- foot to chest victory --

 

in his smiling irises I can almost see the reflection

            of his white steed tethered

            to an ancient Oak,

waiting to carry home the conquering hero

 

            the realization that I made it easy

is a dagger sharper than any sword, more biting

than the absence of words that rattle as chains do

                        around bruised appendages

 

            I am barren without his voice --

a seedpod emptied of its pearls and left to wither

beneath the relentless baking of the high-noon sun

 

and he is in his clapboard castle, some fifty miles away,

            carving notches into leather --

each slash signifying another distressed damsel

wilting in the remembrance of his poet's hands

 

we have become the epic -- verse upon sacred verse 

of welted memories, awake within the etchings and cracks

            of his exquisite armor

 

Reviews

[Rocans]

WOW! You have a way with words my friend. You are definitely one of the best here. Unrequited love perhaps is the sharpest sword one can be cut with. You have such a powerful poetic voice that connects with me. Good stuff Sarah

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You humble me...thank you so much; your words mean a lot, especially on this one.

[Rocans]

My pleasure

[asdarkeyesclose]

'we have become the epic -- verse upon sacred verse '

a great extended metaphor and when he rides into battle he will forget all about the dalliances and the conquests because such is his way but he remains the eternal hero and we remain putty in his hands. lots of pain in this, it is raw with emotion and takes big strides when it needs to. fantastic.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, your review means a lot to me...especially on this one!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Oh yes the anti Prince Charming, promise you the world then just suck the happiness out of yours.
As always your writing is top notch.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, my friend!

[Astro]

I've read this a few times now, as I am wont to do when I encounter one of your writes and here within a classical metaphor, you whip emotion upon the reader leaving literary welts of your own. I can still feel the sting of your cloaked confessions, the bitter taste lies in the back of my mouth even though it was not me who "made it easy". Your cut must be deep, severing nerves and leaving a numbness that forces you to want more simply to feel again. I don't know that if you were to feel that sting again that it would be as sweet as you remember but nonetheless I feel that pain and loss immeasurably by what you have written, making me feel like apologizing for my sex, even though your once true prince charming was not 'everyman' but one shiny stone among mountains. Powerful reflections penned Sarah.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Oh, don't appologize for your sex! I realize that not all men are like this, just a few bad apples in the bunch...I could write a companion about women who do the same thing. Thank you so much, my friend!

[Astro]

You're welcome.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is medieval in its content...but fits perfectly with any love affair that is one-sided...

a conquest rather than a real love...and being the victim of this...not good...

let him ride away...good riddance...hope he gets thrown off his horse...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you Jacob...yeah, I was watching a fairy tale themed movie and thought, this is the opposite of what usually happens. I'm glad you enjoyed this one.

[TL Boehm]

a seedpod emptied of its pearls and left to wither
beneath the relentless baking of the high-noon sun

conquest is a brutal thing even when cloaked in the form of otherwise knight.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Yes, they are tricky sometimes...demons who have taken on the form of knights...shape shifters...lol Thank you so much, TL.

[Frieda P]

It immediately reminded me of Tori Amos A-sorta Fairytale.

and he is in his clapboard castle, some fifty miles away,
carving notches into leather --
each slash signifying another distressed damsel
wilting in the remembrance of his poet's hands

Us dang damsels fall for it every time, you rewrote the story in metaphoric genius Friday.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Love Tori, but don't think I've hear that one! I'll have to have a listen now. Thank you, Frieda!

[Me]

Sadly this is the truth of fairytales,they almost always end this way in reality...excellent piece Sarah :) x

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Don't I know it, my friend... Thank you so much, again, for the review!

[Commanda Panda]

This left me with a kind of sad feeling. Then I had sugar. Enjoy the read.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

haha Sugar usually does the trick...thank you my Panda fried :)

[Commanda Panda]

Love you, Scarlet

[Constance Claire]

your imagery is exceptional.

With a few whispers of your pen, you have expressed the crushed feelings of many a poor damsel. well done.

Whomever your 'prince' was - he was an idiot. It's a good thing there are much better ones out there who will treat you like you deserve. :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Haha Thank you...I think he was as well :)