The Fairy and the Shepherd (A Fragment)

a long narrative piece I didn't finish

In lands of ice, where warmth there is but none,
There was a fairy who sat all alone.
So beautiful, yet none could understand
Her tender heart or wished to hold her hand.
Up to the stars she looked with misery,
Her tearful eyes so full of agony.
Her loneliness and shedding of her tears
Was heard upon by the highest of ears.
Each god above, who reigns up in the skies,
Could help not hear her painful, weary sighs;
‘Oh how alone I always seem to be
As if my heart knows no serenity.
I pray for love or just someone to hold,
To hold me tight when I’m alone and cold.
Alas my fate seems grim and so alone,
Without a love to call my very own.’
And all the gods felt deep within their heart
A sympathy to ease her painful smart.
Each god took in the beauty of her face,
Falling in love, wishing for her embrace.
Her silky skin, that bathed amongst the light;
So soft to touch, t’was any man’s delight.
Each god did crave to linger ever in
To plant a kiss and rub her silky skin;
And oh her hair, so soft and fine to touch,
Blowing with wind, would send one’s blood to rush
When tresses of blue hair fell to her breast
And there upon seemed playfully to rest.
Her azure eyes, like crystalline blue lakes,
Could pierce one’s soul demanding till they take
Away one’s love, passion, and desire
For any other and throw it to the fire.
Her luscious lips that seem to part in rhyme
With every breath are sweeter than sweet wine.
Her white silk gown that glistens with the snow
Is just as pure as her sweet, gentle soul.
So bathed in light, a figure so divine,
Captivating; the gods say, “She is mine!”
How like an angel are her fairy wings
Amongst her back that seem as if to cling
Because her beauty is so rare to see
They are in love with this sweet scenery.

From distant lands a traveler walked near;
A shepherd’s son who heard those weary tears.
‘Oh hark, what is this lovely voice I hear
With such sadness and lingering of fear?
How like an angel from the gods above
Is this sweet voice that oh so longs for love.’
And there upon, this traveler did set
To find this voice so full of deep regret.
The cold winds blew his sable locks of hair
from his green eyes so he could see more clear;
And as his cheeks reddened from bitter cold,
He moved forward, so steadily and bold.
His coat was made from the finest of wool
From fairest lambs his shepherd father pulled.
Stitched and knitted from his rough, calloused hands
For his young son to travel distant lands.
So kind and brave even the gods admired
This humble man each shepherdess desired.
In all the lands near his small, peaceful home
T’was only he that all women would long.
Though long they may, his heart he could not give,
With feeble mortals this man could not live.
Emotions deep within his teeming brain,
He covered deep forever to remain
Until one day he would find his true love,
The one he’s longed and always dreaming of;
And so he sets to travel on his way
Until his heart can soon be kept at bay
By love that lasts eternally and true,
To stand the test of time. He now pursues
This siren’s voice singing a melody
Into his soul with sweetest harmony.

In twilight’s hour, the sun and all fade soon
To darkened night and witness full the moon;
And every creature of the sable night
Shall bathe in bliss under the lunar light.
Sweet Luna’s beams adorn our fairy’s skin,
That precious pearl all eyes must glance again
To witness full, this goddess of the ice
Of which no mortal or being suffice.
How like the stars that clad the nightly skies
Are the sweet gems that are her azure eyes
Shining a path to where this goddess stands
Where little she knows that in her soft hands
A heart she holds, with hers, shall intertwine,
That beats for her in sweet and gentle rhyme.
Her wanting sighs have lured this traveler
Into her lands to speak with only her.
When two like souls are destined to be one,
Not fate nor time shall halt their union.
From lands afar, the shepherd’s son is near
That siren’s voice that now is singing clear;
And now behold, his eyes see clear in view
Under the lunar beams’ pale, glowing hue,
A sight he’s never seen before until
This wond’rous night in which all time stands still.
‘What is this creature, as if from my dreams,
Absorbs the hues of these pale lunar beams?
Is my weak heart worthy of such a sight
That graces my eyes with such sheer delight?
Oh heart, oh heart, fail not until I kiss
Those lips of sweet wine that bring me such bliss.’
Then all at once, as if t’was destiny,
Both eyes did meet in perfect harmony.
Thereat both smiled and ancient time stood still
As both of their eyes got the other’s fill.

‘Oh weary man, who’s traveled all this way,
Did my sad song reach you from far away?
I am not worthy of your gentle thoughts
Or kindness that my silly songs have sought.’
‘No! Tis I not worthy of your sweet sight
Who brings my heart such pleasantry, delight.
Why are your songs so sad sweet ice fairy?
Can such songs come from one with such beauty?’
‘Ah. Though beauty without a love to hold,
To keep one warm when they’re alone and cold,
Is a fate worse than the most horrid death.
For years, alone, I’ve wished for my last breath.’
‘I too know well the fate you’ve longed endured.’
‘Perhaps we are the one another’s cure?’
‘Such words do bless my unworthy of ears.
Such bliss, such thought, bring my eyes full of tears.’
‘Oh weep not so, such sight I cannot see;
For your sweet tears do reach inside of me.’
‘Then weep, I shan’t, my sweet. For fate was kind
Enough to see that our hearts intertwine.
My love, please stay with me forevermore
And these sad songs you sing, please play no more.
For when I look into your eyes, I know
That we have met before. Bound are our souls.’
‘Tis you my heart has long awaited for,
And now, henceforth, my eyes shall weep no more.’

Reviews

[Fabric Pulse]

"In the land of ice sat a fairy all alone..." Such imagery! This is like a memory book re-playing in my mind now, constant turns of pages and mazes and rhymes and falls and stands and dances. Thrilling! Chilling! Haunting! Adoring! "My eyes shall weep no more..." Take a sad song and keep making it better on your mix tape.