True Masquerade

Set in Vienna. The Italian Translations are provided in the footnote. Story summary in the footnote as well.

I slide on my mask,

The glitter hiding my face

From all those who ask

Who stands in our place.

My gown rightly fit,

Like a glove to our curves

Shall rightly permit

Me all she deserves.

 

I swept, in the room,

Marchesa, announced.

Our fiore in bloom,

As her I flounced.

The men bowed and scraped

For the favor of my hand,

Bejeweled and be-caped

And ask with gaiety grand,

 

“My Marchesa, mine eyes

Can hardly stand the sight

Of thine beauty unhidden by guise,

But enhanced as is right.”

 

“My dear Duca,” I twitter

In perfect imitation of us,

Our Columbina brillantini aglitter,

“How you flatter me thus.”

 

Behind his Bauta mask

I know he is enthralled

And in his gaze we bask

Hot heat set to scald.

Soon, so soon, he must go

Move to pseudo-Nobildonnas

It is not he, I know,

Duca plays not in our arenas.

 

As Vienna kisses and starts

I am not alone for long.

To us another darts,

Breaking out of the throng.

His daring choice of attire

Is fierce and crudely done.

But his eyes burn with fire

He is another conquest she’s won.

 

“My Marchesa, the loveliest

Thy form proves yet again.”

My rouge blushes to attest

To his word-champagne.

 

Her thanks I give, and more

With a light kiss to his cheek.

Though at his words I soar,

Her own words are small and bleak.

 

He is not the one I want,

Though with him I pass her time

We walk for him, me to flaunt

As the ball’s beauty prime.

Yet he too must move on

And I, in turn, as well.

Barone to a plump, loose swan,

I to a black caped rebel.

 

“Signora, to me, thou art truly

Blossoming,” and his eyes flair.

I find him handsome, albeit unruly,

But I am fain to melt in his stare.

 

“My Dear Nobiluomo,” I purr,

And he moves closer, so close.

I find I cannot make myself defer,

“My thanks,” and I accept his rose.

 

Though they will say

All is not as you see

For this ball, this late day,

I am I truly her, or is she me?

Truth; the Marchesa lies dead

Hidden away for none to find

And finally, I in her stead

With her lover entwined.

 

Too late, he will realize

I am not as I seem

This will be his to agonize

For I will have this dream.

Too long in the shadows

With my misbegotten lot

Now the younger sister glows

While the elder can not.

Author's Note

Marchesa: Marchioness
Duca: Duke
Nobiluomo: Nobleman
Signora: Lady
Barone: Baron
fiore: flower

Summary: This is the tale of a younger sister who kills her elder sister, a Marchioness, and replaces her at a masquerade ball. She uses the deception to aid her in seducing the Marchioness's current lover, a young nobleman that the younger sister longs to be with.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

This is an adult fairy story, complete with evil witch and moral! Such virtual decadent thoughts but, wondering what end befalls the wicked sister!

I sit in awe right now because the poem flows like a river, metre virtually perfect, great use of words and sea-saw of phrasing - ' My rouge blushes to attest / To his word-champagne.' ...

'He is not the one I want, / Though with him I pass her time/ We walk for him, me to flaunt / As the ball's beauty prime.' - this is the evil basis of the desire for sister's lover.. 'he is not the one I want' -

Love it. Thank you for sharing.

[Jenn Wathen]

wow this is amazing! wow o.o just... ha... wow!

[Seracies]

The writing style was extravagant with beautiful description.

[Alex R.]

Hey. Good poem, definitely not you. What's a Columbina brillantini?

[xBellaDonnax]

Whoa not what I expected when I started reading, that was brilliant!
Very Victionesque

[Beautifully_Anarchist]

beautiful language and i love the contrasting bluntness put in occassionally, the rhythm is a little off in here and there but i'd only say that if you really wanted the sternest of criticism, my favourite line being: I am fain to melt in his stare, so romantic!! and i think thts whn u realise as a readr tht she actually likes him n it's not just her doing i for amusement

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

Great cadence to this story. A decadent undertaking. Well played. Thank you for sharing your talent. Very unique.
Light,
Siddartha

[Fran Marie]

An Awesome piece~ Both in content and rhyme scheme, this contains

the whole nine yards ~ you spinned a magical mysterious tale of a "True Masqurade" ~ aptly

titled~ she offs her sister and assumes her identy and seduces ~Love it!!

THanks for submitting this fantastic write!! to the MasQuerade Ball ConTesT

~Fran Marie

[{Rated Vee For FAMOUS}]

OHMUHGOSH!!!!!
that was amazing...
you wrote that, and i mean that was amazing....
the story was completely magnificent, then the ryhme scheme, i mean...
that was so completely amazing,
the beinging was confiusing, but as it unfurled, that confusion evolved into just awe...
i love it, and that confusion is what gives it that element....
you are an axolutely amazing writer...
i bow to you....
..just amazing....