The Sand-Bride

A fantasy fable in rhyme.

She wanders along the beach

among the sandpipers

and counts the many seashells

that she's found.

Today there might be sunbeams

to be counted

but she won't know for sure

until the sun is going down.

She is beautiful

in that innocent world she lives.

A wonderful world

of the simplest hopes and dreams,

where those seashells

and sunbeams

are most important.

And most important are her thoughts,

or so it seems.

She is the Sand-bride,

for white is all she wears,

and it suites her

when she walks the beach at night.

She sings her songs

of seabirds building castles

and of dreams becoming real

in moonlight.

I see her,

now and then,

near Solis Beach.

Out beyond the dunes

and near the shore.

She helps the seabirds

build their castles

in the sand

then she visits them

in that place

called Nevermore.

She saw me, once,

as I watched her from the dunes

and she was at my side

in the blink of an eye.

She smiled,

and then she tried to kiss me

but she vanished

into the “Sweet by and by”.

That hidden place,

off in the sun-drop sky.

Her smile

was a memory dressed in childhood

and her breath

was the salty-air, in rain.

When she left

she took that vision with her;

a lovely vision

that I could not, quite, sustain.

***

Now I try to write the words

that paints the picture

of the Sand-Bride

building castles with the birds.

But I cannot paint the light

that glows around her,

Nor can I sing her songs

without the magic of her words.

JE Falcon

08-23-2016

Rew. 02-22-2022

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

This one does indeed have the sound of a fable. Maybe even a ghost story. Actually the Sand Bride is something of a tease, appearing suddenly beside the speaker, trying to put a wet on the astonished speaker, then disappearing. I mean, what is it with this chick? I think maybe she's off her meds. Then again, maybe it's the speaker who's non-compliant.

[JE Falcon]

LOL! Ah, the world of the mystical and magical cannot be defined by pills alone, or in smoke-filled rooms. Then, again, maybe she is just a dream(?). :)

[William Michael Reeves]

As I read this I kept thinking she was light. Then the last stanza led me to more of her than might meet the eye. I like that you give an original date and mention that it is a rewrite. And I'm a sucker for some rhyme.

[JE Falcon]

Thanks, Bill. --- She is from a place I can only imagine, and even then, I don't see it all that well. :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Is she real or is she memorex...I like the wispiness of this...
she always wears white...innocence perpetual...the infinite bride....
love is just a mirage, or is it?
j.

[JE Falcon]

Fantasy and reality sometimes blend in the writer's world. Well, in my mind they do. But my wife of 36 years says I'm "Different", not sure what she means by that but I'm taking it as a compliment. :) --- Thanks, Jacob, for the reply, it's always a pleaser.

[Lisasview]

Oh my, truly loved this poem..perhaps because I often write in this type of mood..
So lovely ..so soft.. so magical..
Read it several times...
Lisa, now in Spain

[JE Falcon]

Much thanks, Lisa, now in Spain ( :) ) How's the weather?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Well I've never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music! (TDN)

[Lisasview]

You are so welcome...
Lisa, now in rainy Spain

[JE Falcon]

The Rain in Spain falls mainly --- never mind :)

[Lisasview]

Ha ha..
Very funny..
L

[Writergurl]

Loved how you summed up this write, This is wonderful

[JE Falcon]

Thanks, I like writing fantasy and mystery.