Beware

This is a little something dark and sad that I wrote for a contest. It's not my best and I tried very, very hard to not make it rhyme, but sometimes it slipped out. Also, yes, I did steal the names from two different Shakespeare plays.

In the verdant forest dark and drear

where the deadly nightshade grows

and the ivy weaves poisonous tendrils over the boughs,

dark boughs of the towering trees,

I await my love, sweet Claudio, he with the fluttering hands

and the deep, loving eyes.

Silence above all silence chokes the babbling brook,

the whistling wind, this eerie stillness broken

by my trembling, tremoring heart.

O fear! What if he does not come,

ravaged by wolves or trapped by fairy-kind or hags?

Come quickly, love! I weep; I beat my breast

in pained anticipation!

 

“Fair lady, why do you weep?”

A voice above me whispers, soft but powerful,

gentle and somehow mystical.

Pricking up my raven head, I answer shy and still afeared,

“I wait for my love Claudio, I wait, but he has not come,

and I am frightened by the forest.

I have heard that fairies meet with ladies in the woods,

and tempt them with a kiss and the promise of wings

 to following the wicked beasts

back to the fairy circle, where the captured ladies

dance and sing and are the slaves to the fairy prince and king!”

 

“Oh kind lady, do not fear!” The stranger smiles impishly,

“For I do not have wings to tempt you by.

If fairies come, (and I know how they look) I shall protect you.

Smile, lady! Then, I’m sure, you shall be thrice as fair!”

He is regal, tall but willowy, with hair as gold as ripened corn

and vast, enchanted eyes so green the forest pales in comparison.

He pats my head and dances whimsically upon a nearby stump,

throwing up his long, thin legs and pirouetting rapidly.

“Forget your troubles, dance with me!” He cries wantonly.

Soon we spin through the nearer trees,

laughing gaily, and I clap my hands in ecstasy.

 

A coy smile spreads across his lips, and thus he speaks again:

“I am Iago, just a simple peasant boy

who lives within the woods. Shall I entertain you more

as we wait for your love, Claudio?”
“Yes, Iago! Oh, I thank you for your kindness.”

“The pleasure lady, all is mine. Listen! I shall sing.”

With a voice as clear and lovely as song of larks,

did sweet Iago sing. Enthralled by his spellbinding song

I listen, awed, and soon my head does lightly rest

upon his perfect shoulder, and my raven hair he strokes

with his delightful hands.

 

“Away my lady, we must go!” He whispers in my ear.

“For I am not a peasant boy, but a gentle prince!

And ah, but you are fair and light, so you must be my queen!”

“Dear Claudio…” I whisper, gazing in Iago’s eyes,

those green, poisonous spheres that trap my glance.

“He is not here, but I am in his place.” Iago croons; his pale fingers

touch my blushing cheek and brush upon my lips.

“Now would you be my queen? A single kiss will seal the covenant.”

Those eyes, that voice, those lips so soft and rare,

so bewitched by that intoxicating song,

 I cannot resist accepting his amorous kiss.

 

“Now, frightened child, you are mine.” The voice above me laughs with pride;

I glimpse a pair of wind-wrought wings unfolding from Iago’s back,

as we climb into the air, drifting toward the fairy circle,

the fairy prince cackles lightly in my ear:

“Your love would never come for you, fine lady so deceived!

I saw him in the verdant wood, stumbling among the foliage,

and as a peasant boy I came disguised and asked for what he looked.

He said he sought his love, who waited for him in the wood,

and since the fairy circle needs young ladies for to dance and sing

as fools to coax laughter from me, the court and the fairy king,

I slew your lover Claudio and deftly hid my wings. He lies dead

among the stones, entwined by the poisonous ivy.”

 

In the verdant forest dark and drear

where the deadly nightshade grows

and the ivy weaves poisonous tendrils over the boughs,

dark boughs of the towering trees,

lies my love, sweet Claudio, he with the still, icy hands

and the closed, darkened eyes.

And I, far away, dance and sing for the fairy king,

and weep and mourn without end.

 

Reviews

[chord0]

A sad fairy tale in verse, beautiful, great story line. Good message: Beware of those who are there to trick you.

[Mysteral - Night Prowle..]

I think this is excellent, a poem with such a wonderful story, and so well told. Reminds me of fairy stories, folktales and songs I learned as a child, but long since forgotten. I can't praise this highly enough.

[Charles D. Moorer]

Excellent, you have managed to capture Shakesperian overtones and poets of old in a very modern way. I applaud your work.

[Dani California]

This is such a heartbreaking piece!
Masterfully crafted... !

Exceptional writing and the story,
though sad, is quite enchanting...

Outstanding work.. !

[Michael]

With hope upon hope, yet dashed . . . my fair lady, you enlivened the past.

[Vesa Lee]

Ah! I so love this! So very like a fariy tale with rythyme. Thank you for sharing.

[Treasaigh (The Solitar..]

I love it! Very creative concept..great imagery! Your poem is like a mystical story=) Lovely flow. Marvelous write!!=)