Romany Legacy

He wore a ring around his neck

A thong of shabby leather

Sparkling light from the hunter moon

Shone beams of highland heather

This amulet of gold hung down

A backdrop of weathered skin

Gifted from his dying mother

Charmed heirloom from his kin

 

“This ring is for your one true love

You will know just where she stands

You will see her radiant soul

And will take her silken hand.

You'll know, my son the time is ripe

For you to release this ring

You will feel it deep down inside

When your heart begins to sing”

 

This gypsy man he sang and danced

Traveled hard through miles of towns

He kissed and loved the ladies

And left them each half a crown.

His vardo home upon the heath

Of the bracken and the gorse

Onward plodding his faithful cob

His nose it plotted his course

 

With faithful friend the wind in his hair

Absorbed in whistle and song

He rides along without a care

Seeks the next traveling throng.

The road is long and time drags slow

He tires of feeling alone

Just odd vagabonds and freak shows

Which he meets along the droves

 

“Whoa there boy!” he ups and shouts

She stands there his true love fair

Waiting there with radiant pout

Falling curls of russet hair

He looks into the lure of her eyes
kneels in the mud and breathes 

“I've been waiting for you my bride"

"Come! You belong right by my side”

 

Kindred spirits they dissapear

On through open hills and leas

United after all the years

Could not calm and set him free

No longer does he need to roam

All those cities and the towns

Contented they bought a cabin

With what he saved in half a crowns!

Author's Note

A throng or thongging is the thinly cut leather they use for jewellery making
A Vado is a romany gypsy caravan.
Half Crown is an Old English currency.
I still work on this one, now and again re-visiting the metering!

Reviews

[David Lewis Paget]

On the third reading, Helen now, with your alterations, but I must point out a couple of things. Should it be 'his' faithful cob in line 23. I notice you follow a standard rhyming pattern for the first three verses, but then it begins to change. You begin to rhyme the odd as well as the even lines, and there's nothing wrong with that, but at the end of verse four, you finish with a rhyming couplet, 'show/alone/shows/roads'. (Not an exact rhyme, but close enough). In verse five, the first four lines are standard alternating rhymes, but the second four are 'eyes/guise/bride/side', two couplets. In the final verse you lose it altogether with 'ride/leas/years/down' before reverting to 'flee/towns/with/crowns'. It's almost as if you're trying to rhyme 'flee' with 'leas', then 'down' with 'towns' and 'crowns'. If so, your fourth and fifth lines are out of place. Not being too picky here, but the second and fourth line non-rhyme really stands out. Have a play with it, lol.

[TrimarcoRansome]

The lines you point out are the ones I keep changing, I will get i right [or better] if it kills me!!

[Frieda P]

An enchanting story within your poetry Helen, the gypsy in me loves this one to pieces!

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thanks Frieda! There is something very romantic about gypsies isn't there!
Helen

[Frieda P]

My mother always said I had gypsy blood running through my veins, but I don't think she meant it in a good way, I do think so though, much enjoyed Helen!

[MikeV]

I loved this! You are such an amazing writer!
When you do publish your book, i want the first copy, well
maybe the second cause I'm sure youll want the first :)
I love your work! Keep it up! :)

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thanks, Mike! I've written a series, first will be published soon followed by the rest, cant wait ;-)
The rate I'm going in here there will be a book of poetry too!!

[MikeV]

Well i want every book of your work :)

[Angi]

Oh! I loved to see him find his love and settle down. The last line had me grinning! He must have spent a LOT of money before he met her! Nicely done. I love story poems so much and this did not disappoint. Angi~

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thank you for your review, Angi. This is one of the first story poems I have written so trying to master the rhyme and flow of them,
Helen

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Helen Nice to see you today. I think this one of your best. it seems you are truly trying to master this art form.So well made. You know how to tell a tale Thank you Bard.

[TrimarcoRansome]

Thank you, Tate. There are still a couple of lines i am still toying with but it is getting there slowly.