The Death of the Traveler

A sequel to "The Traveler and the Sprite".

The Traveler grew feeble, ancient of days

His eyesight gone dim, his hair turned to gray

His hands, gnarled and twisted, no longer strong

His knees, stiff and painful from dancing too long

 

His love for the Sprite had grown with the years

They’d shared joy and laughter, sorrow and tears

Her enchantment had given unnatural long life

To the one she adored and protected from strife

 

While they danced and they loved, four hundred years flew

It felt like just moments, but the Willow Sprite knew

That she couldn’t stop time, nobody can

She was immortal, the Traveler, a man

 

Still she tended his aches, never leaving his side

And felt no regret for becoming his bride

She watched as he withered and wasted away

Her lovely glow dimming with each passing day

 

The Fae of the wood felt the grief of their queen

To see what could be done, the Council convened

‘Round the bed of the Traveler they solemnly stood

For he had earned their respect, by being loyal and good

 

The Traveler's eyes opened, he raised his aged head,

Gathered his strength, cleared his throat, and then said,

“For these four hundred years, such joy I have had

And now that it is ended, please don't be sad,”

 

“As no man before me, I’ve been happy and blessed

But please, if you would, grant this one last request

My life soon will be over, but I yearn for the chance

To have with my lady one last farewell dance”

 

Touched by the great love of this mortal man

The Council agreed, then joined their hands

The wood suddenly lit as if day conquered night

The Traveler, young again took the hand of the Sprite

 

“You have this night only to say your goodbyes,”

The Fairy King told them, with tears in his eyes

The Traveler nodded his thanks to the Fae,

Put his arms ‘round the Sprite and swept her away

 

They waltzed through the wood ‘till they got to the place

The Traveler first witnessed her unsurpassed grace

They clung to each other, arms and hearts entwined

The Dawn, fast approaching never far from their minds

 

When the tops of the trees were touched by the Sun

He slumped to the ground, and their last dance was done

The Willow Sprite wailed and collapsed to her knees

From the force of her grief, the leaves fell from the trees

 

The Fae laid the Traveler to rest where he fell

The Willow Sprite, weeping, began weaving a spell

Her arms turned to branches, roots sprung from her feet

It took but a moment for the change to complete

 

The love of the Traveler and Sprite still lives on

It wasn’t extinguished that morning at Dawn

The Traveler's grave isn’t marked by a stone

But by the love of his Sprite, now a Weeping Willow

Reviews

[Corset]

From the force of her grief, the leaves fell from the trees" yeah, I started wanting to cry just about here, how tragic the rhymes, up until the last stanza that finishes in free verse narrative but lines one and two of the last stanza end in one letter sound rhyme "n".
but you EXPECT the last two lines to rhyme, but they don't. So when it ends, it crashes, like a three sentence count rhyme weaning and drop. righteous poem.

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

These should be made into fairy tales..full with illustration,hard bound...some of us need not see pics because as you have so supremely written them that they play exceptionally well & smoothly through an artist's mind. I do think that children would love them( well ok so most artists are merely overgrown children but you know:)

[ewest1220]

Interesting, when it was all said and done this was a very compelling and compassionate tale. I enjoy your voice in your writing. Very narrative but at the same time very personal. Great work thank you for sharing this!

[Lydia]

This is amazing. Very deep emotion. A work of art.

[...]

. oh ... you have written these words with a heart of gold ... the echo of these words in my heart i shall hold ... the love that flows in every image and line ... is nothing but a ravishing poetry mine ... the melody is haunting and the song is well sung ... your place, dear poet, is under the sun ... spectacular writing ...

[Mary]

Just beautiful! magnificent!

[thewritingbanana]

I saw this poem first but stopped reading so i could go back and read "The Traveler and The Sprite." you're an awesome poet. Hopefully i can continue reading you, and continue practicing, and maybe one day get this good.

[Kristallo]

I'm speechless, the ending caught me completely off guard. Your poetry is intricately sewn together to make a gorgeous patchwork of somber dreams, rich fantasies, and melancholic moments of self examination. Your writing has so evolved over this short time and every new write you publish is scintillating and profound, its all connected beautifully. I adore your talents.