The village girl

'All that glisters is not gold,

often have you heard that told.'

William Shakespeare,

from The Merchant of Venice.

She had a wish, the little village girl

to make her beauty known to all.

But where she dwelt by stream and wood,

just ten small cottages were stood,

one church, a smithy, nothing more

to show the countenance she wore.

Little Sally Sunshine

skimming stones across a pond,

dreaming, always dreaming

of places far beyond, the little

village where she dwelt 

in heart but not in mind;

And she is oh, so fair of face

quite perfect in design, with

eyes more blue than summer sky

and lips of ruby wine.

Little Sally Sunshine

gold and silver in her pocket,

catching a bus to London town

to buy herself a locket,

dreaming, always dreaming

of places far beyond, the little

village where she dwelt

in heart but not in mind. 

Little Sally Sunshine 

beneath the many steepled sky,

a child lost to the city's thrall

as the crowds rush frantic by;

And all the streets are paved in gold,

but none more rich than she

as suitors fall about her feet,

propose on bended knee. 

Little Sally Sunshine

dressed in crimson silk and lace,

blank faces in the unloved night

charting each fall from grace;

As lost to all save craven lust

sparks build the inner fire,

of those who come to desecrate
such innocent desire.  

Little Sally Sunshine

gazing sightless at the sun,

silent, ever silent

now her time on earth is done;

her life ebbed on the city streets,

bones broken to the core,

as the crowds rush ever frantic by

never counting up the score.

Little Sally Sunshine

skimming stones across a pond,

dreaming, ever dreaming

of places far beyond, the little

village where she dwelt

in heart, but not in mind;

And she was oh, so fair of face

quite perfect in design, with

eyes more blue than summer sky

and lips of ruby wine.

Reviews

[Will Neill]

Beccy, when I read this all I could hear in my head was my grandmothers voice, this is the sort of rhyme she used to recite. I know she would have loved this.
Well done.
Will

[CD Campbell]

I really can appreciate the scheme you displayed on this. Excellent poem that's nicely executed from beginning to end. A cautionary work. Sadly I know a few people that have been seduced by such things that "glitter". From what I know is that the seduction always starts molasses slow. Kind of like trapping a fly in amber. Sadly we all have our experiences with such things. Your work always amazes me. CD

[h d e rushin]

yesterdays headline (Detroit News) was that they apprehended 12 pimps and 17 underage girls
involved in human trafficking. Click on Brittney Spears and follow the links and it wont be long
before you wind up on a porn site with young girls doing very adult things. And sadly it all starts out
the same. Innocent girl, small town, pretty, just wanting to proceed from the sights of country
roads and hay fields, swept up into a life so unlike what they expected. In todays world,
no one really wants to notice. In fact, noticing means you care enough to get involved. And
no one wants to get involved anymore.

There are a thousand Little Sally Sunshine's born every hour. I'm sure even Shakespeare knew of
some himself.......wonderful cadence here Beccy. I want to move to the UK so I can write like
this....dana

[An owl on the moon]

This is so beautifully voiced, even in the aching music of your rhythm. The heart and soul is pushed and pulled through once sweet desires transformed into scars and pain. So powerful.

[emmajoy]

This truly is part warning, part prayer.. There have to be Sally Sunshines otherwise are world would be full of debris, death and destruction. For those darlings we need to clean up society, emotions, HUMANITY - not let the vicious black block out the once so lovely.

Progress is supposed to improve not kill. Your words so beautifully explain how it is. But surely, surely we have to re.create what's dying in our modern life. Why thrill in the sordid all the time, why live in the stench of.unscrupulous power. OOps, am starting to vent, tis not the time or place.. this is about YOUR WRITING but, it so begs reaction.

Your finely metered work is how it is, you've created a warning, a display of what's happening to society. Sally Sunshines are being lured, then, propelled through life too early, too influenced by commercialism and such quick inflamatory influences.

Your words are truly powerful... finely written... and, come from a sensitive heart. Thank you.

[Jimmy Yetts]

This world was never made for Little Sally Sunshines; despite its great beauty and the fleeting existence of peaceful havens, we live in a dangerous place under evil control.
"The village girl" is a truly impressive piece of work.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

those who are innocent and pure...in this world, they just get stomped and violated...and that innocence is lost...but no one ever notices...except, maybe the poet...

i wish kids could be kids again, like when i was young in the fifties...we got to have that life.

today kids have to grow up way too fast.

i like how the story told this...

[W.k.kortas]

This construction of this piece, part childhood jump-rope-skipping song, part folk ballad, is just pitch-perfect, and it works hand-in-hand with your text to perfection. Top-notch work.

[Taylor]

Becky, another lilting piece that seems effortless as it unfurls the evolution of an innocent. I loved the entire poem except the line "her eyes as wide as saucers." It stood out only because of the originality of the rest. But that's only my reaction and you already know that I know nothing about poetry so consider the source!

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Beccy... I think of my precious
Granddaughters... and pray for them
each and every day... and my grandson also.
We are designed to be pure and filled with love.
Your poem touches my heart. truly, Pat