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

[Rita L. Sev]

I love the rhythm of this piece - I can hear it being sung as I read it. You tell a vivid tale with a great lesson here as well. Love it!

[ANTO]

This is amazing Beccy. I loved the intro then the kids street-game style rhyme charting Sally's demise because 'small town' England wasn't enough. I reached the end with a heavy heart having wished she'd done well but she fell like so many by the wayside. Used and abused and thrown away like so much trash. But I like to think that the final repitition of the rhyme wasn't just a repetition but was a kind of awakening for the Sally who hadn't yet left the lake where she was skimming stones and who had been shown, a la Scrooge how her life would end so brutally if she wanted to pursue the vanity-route of temptation.
Such masterful telling and with such panache. Top writing Beccy my friend. !!

[Lydia Shutter]

What an amazing story you told in this poem. The rhyming and rhythm are absolute perfection and the story is one that teaches a life lesson....be careful what you wish for and be happy for what you have. Wonderful work, my friend. Lydi**

[....................]

sometimes we have to be careful what we wish for or we will find ourselves with so much regret...one cannot help but feel bad for Little Sally Sunshine...beautifully written, Beccy

[Terpsichore]

How powerful this is! Poor little Sally Sunshine.
Despite her beauty and perfect design
she took the wrong road. Let's never forget
such souls, for there are many who suffer
the same fate.

Superbly crafted poetry. T