Lady castaway

There lies a lady castaway,

up where her lonely lattice lay,

a tiny, tangled hideaway

of shadow sheltered disarray;

        shy this spinster ever weaving,

        while a widow never grieving

lustful lovers, long passé,

who dared stray and see her prey.

Keen are they who heed her sway,

fleet afoot and on their way;

        for the suitor disbelieving,

        mesmerized with misconceiving,

shall meet the maker in her fray

and feel her feed this judgement day.

So, woo the weaver if you may,

but widowed, always, she will stay.

Author's Note

Am always in awe of the spider, and the widow is one of my favorites. She's painted a bit darkly here, perhaps, but it is as we know her.

The structure of this verse is a bit odd. The count and meter are reversed in the second stanza, which made it most fun to pen. Can't seem to pen lines without rhyme and hope the common rhyme used throughout made it a bit less obtrusive for those who dislike it.

Reviews

[Wicked Dahlia]

i really enjoyed the flow and rhyming scheme of this. i'm always a bit envious of those who are so easy with rhymes :) The Widow may be painted a bit darkly but that may be because we like her best this way. She's strong and dangerous, more complex than others perhaps.

[Mic]

Am so glad you enjoyed it, Dahlia. No need for envy, though, as I fear it's the only way the words will align for me and makes any other style impossible. Thank you so much for reading and the time for comment!

[David Lewis Paget]

Beautiful, tight rhyming verse. It has an echo of 'The Lady of Shalot' about it, but very impressive, the first thing I've read of yours. Never apologise for rhyme; that's what true poetry is all about.

[Mic]

Thank you David. Tennyson is probably my favorite poet, and can probably see some of his influence in my work from time to time. I so love the rhyme as well.

Thank you for your time spent reading as well as commenting, David!

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm not "educated" in the ways of poetry, but I know what I like, and I like this very much. The only thing I can compare this style to is Poe. The Raven, The Bells, etc. Quite an outstanding job, I'd say.

[Mic]

Wow, am so glad you liked it, Sam, as I enjoy your works as well. Am humbled to even see Mr. Poe mentioned on my page. A heartfelt thank you for your time spent reading and commenting.

[zainul]

Thought many possibility on castaway before actually reading the piece.
Though not for long.I will dwell on the findings later.
Things became clear after I read it.
It is a wonderful subject to write a poem.
It is a golden piece.
Your imagination is unique.
Congratulations!!!

[Mic]

You're most kind, zainul, and thank you very much. I truly appreciate your time in reading as well as commenting.

[zainul]

You are welcome.
I really enjoyed it.

[Marie]

I like rhyme myself, and I like this especially. At first I thought of Penelope, but then I realized why she was always widowed.

[Mic]

Am so glad you liked it, Marie. Know some feel rhyme interferes with the message, but just never been able to write a verse that felt finished without it.

Thank you so much for the read and time to comment!

[Mic]

I wonder if she had a beautiful lether white head, a little gotten dirty too~ of the ocean blue. and all the hurt she's gone through....

Lovely write dear poet, keep that quill flowing!

E.L.

[Mic]

Fear she's more apt to cast a lover into the blue, but a lovely thought, E.L.! Thank you for reading as well as commenting!

I see I see, interesting ;) you're so welcome! x

[Mark]

I was reminded of Edgar Allen Poe actually. I think you did an excellent job with this.

[Mic]

That's quite the compliment, and I'm a Poe fan as well. Thank you Mark, for the time to read as well as comment!

[Sheila Kline]

Well, you shall never bore me with rhyme, as I am one who just naturally seems to rhyme and write most of my poetry in the form.
The structure of the second verse is interesting and it still reads with the same sense of natural flow. I really like your rhyme, structure, and message!! 'Tis a different take on the black widow but it still leaves her as menacing as ever to me..........I abhor spiders in all forms - gives me chills to think of them - any size, shape, form........lol Give me mice, or snakes any day to a spider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(did I put enough exclamation points????....lol)
p.s. I especially like the lines "Keen are they who heed her sway", and "and feel her feed this judgement day"

[Mic]

Thank you very much for the kind review. It is an odd subject, but am intrigued with our eight-legged 'friends' for some reason. Met the black widow when I was quite young and she somehow caught my fancy. Never been bitten by her, but the sneaky recluse gave me a nibble once. There's another poem!!!! (and a couple extra exclamation points for ya) lol

Thank you again!

[Sheila Kline]

And, I look forward to reading about the sneaky recluse----ooooh, it must run and hide - a quick "bite"....lol

[Mic]

lol... then the recluse it shall be!