The Swan

If you love someone who wants to be free, do you let them go? Or do you continue to cage them, smothering them in a prison of your own feelings until they expire?

The Swan

In a lake of blue

In waters gleaming gold

He chanced upon the swan one day

Reposing in the sun.

 

Feathers gleaming glossy black,

Neck and head held high,

She caught his heart immediately

And held it to her, tight.

 

And so, of course, it was

That he trapped and took her home

He said that he would care for her, that

“All I am is yours.”

 

They lived inside his cottage

For a quiet year or two

And the swan appeared content,

Never yearning for waters blue.

 

Yet the man woke up one night

From a nightmare’s clammy grip

And found his feathered love

Had given him the slip.

 

He blubbered bloody tears

And howled to the moon;

After all these years

How dare she leave his room?

 

But as he headed back to bed

To bathe in lonely grief,

A piece of papery parchment

Landed by his feet.

 

It was scrawled in messy haste

As though written by webbed feet

And stained with large splotches

Of tears yet to dry.

 

“I love you very much,” it said,

“But alas, we cannot be!!

You hoard me to yourself too much;

I just want to be free!!

 

And the man understood.

He gave up his selfish ways,

Cast aside his lonely heart

And thusly spent his days.

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thinking of writing a short story about this.

Reviews

[Amanda J. S.]

Beautiful... And different... this could really be made into a short story! :-)

[Ama May Cooper]

Quite a sweet tale. I have to say im happy the swan got away... a true and clear depiction of maturity is written in this weather you meant it to be or not the man learns that he is wrong to do as he does and does not chase after the swan once it has gone but allows it to carry on its merry way.

Another beautiful piece of work, i may have to start checking your pieces out as soon as you get new ones i am literally blown away by your work.

[Maan]

Nicely written.. Specially the slowly rising pace of feelings. Good Job. .

[EmpressPoetess]

A very enchanting tale with a great message of selfless love

[DESTROYA]

Love the detail and dialogue. You should def write a short story for this

[Inyourshadow]

Reminded me of Poes ' The Selfish Giant ' who refuses to share his garden with the children. This has a moral many should take a note of and cease their jealous and suspicious natures for they are not safe guarding their love they are stiffling it. Lovely and yes a short story would fit this theme perfectly. Keep em' coming

[ice]

A lesson that all men should learn from, but before their swans take flight.
I enjoyed reading this...and it would make a good story.

[R J Askew]

You let them go. You have no choice. The prision wld only kill them and a true lover wld never want to watch their lover die.

[deeps]

This is wonderful, love the detail and imagery.
I would read it if you add more to it.