Guinevere's Lullaby

A small ryhme inspired by one of the main heroes of Camelot

Guinevere's Lullaby

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

In a field of clover Guinevere lay

In pastel colors of green and grey 

Moonchild dance, dance in the wind

Maiden of virtue and sin

Fy anwylyd,

Fy anwylyd

Oh, Queen of Camelot;  Queen of heart 

Paint me in colors of death an depart

For all that I have and ever adore

I'll take to death evermore 

Author's Note

My muse tends to talk in her sleep. There was more but unfortunately I'm not a scholar of welsh language. Listening sure made me wish I was. Thank you for reading. Feel free to comment, troll, or just say hi. I appreciate it.

Reviews

[Ranger Kessel]

They im here checking things out I fit a lot if catching up to do. Nice work as always

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly my friend for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with me. I really appreciate it.

[Jenni Bailey]

hi Carlos
Keep on writing

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Hi Jenni, thank for your words of encouragement. I really truly do wish I could write more about this incredible character of story. Because to me Guinevere has always been the personification of love in fairytale. At least a more realistic version of it. But I feel it takes a woman's touch to better define the heart of this character and her perspective. Men are inherently biased with their interpretation because love to us is something we learn in life, while in women they are born with it. Women know love in a more intimate level than men ever could because it is through them that life comes forth. They have a profound attachment and emotional bond that we can never experience or know. It would be both hubris and pretentious on my part to try and paint Guinevere in any light of love. Because I could never know her heart. I can only understand the heart of men who loved her. She deserves a better poet to sing her song, one that understands her perspective more than I ever could. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Roth Jordain]

HI,Carlos,
Thank you for your inspiring review of my first poem the POET.
Queen Guinevere one of my favorite maidens of all time, lover and friend to two great men King Richard and Sir Lancelot -- who could be so fortunate to love such a woman and have her love?
Tho I do not speak the Welsh language 'Fy anwylyd' I imagine it as an endearment to the lovely queen.
Your rhyming couplets sing with rhythm and excellent rhyme portraying the beautiful maiden in a scene to capture any poet's heart.

Thank you Carlos for generously displaying this enjoyably skilled piece,
Roth

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts on this poem, Roth. I really appreciate it. Whenever I think of the character Guinevere I'm reminded of the prolific writer Joseph Campbell and his ideas about archetypes in writing. In literature Guinevere is the personification of Love, both in virtue and vice. This was my attempt to not only capture that essence but also perhaps unravel the further mysteries of her as such an iconic character. Unfortunately, I found myself speaking more from a man's perspective rather than finding a balance to speak of the woman's idea. If I could have found it in me to do so I feel this poem would have been longer and better defined. But much like her women are forever a mystery to me. As it should be. In my youth the tales of Camelot held significant meaning because they would come to define my moral and ethical values. In my later age I have come to believe that Guinevere is indeed the true hero of the tales, because through her we learn what it is like to love as human beings, both in the good and flawed ways. Thank you kindly again my friend.

[Roth Jordain]

Thank you also Carlos, there is much to be gained in sharing.

[Robert Haigh]

The wonders of love. The ecstasy and the agony... all the memories... the fulfilled and the unfulfilled. A poignant poem!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Robert for your comment on this piece. Guinevere as a character and archetype has always embodied love in my eyes. Both the good and tragic aspects. The medieval romances have always been a bit vague and ambiguous when it came to defining her as a three dimensional character. I feel there is more to her than just a young woman who falls for a man who is destined to be king. I wish I could have given her more depth, ut I feel my perspective is skewed because I'm a man and woman are a mystery to me. I come at the subject with my bias because of this. She is deserving of her own voice and viewpoint that give answers toward her motivations. To Lancelot he recognized that loving her was a sin, but what about her perspective? So many questions that would probably best be answered by a woman's point of view. This only gives vision to how she was seen and loved by two men, unfortunately. Despite my adoration and admiration for the character I may have fallen a bit short on these particular aspects. Though it was written from a place of love. Perhaps someday I will revisit this piece and give it the touch it deserves. I am greatly appreciative though that quite a few enjoyed this writing. It speaks to the eternal fascination of this incredible beguiling character. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on this piece.

[Richard Knox]

Love and pain are so often entwined. Your poem evokes a strong sense of loss and regret which has not, however, diminished the love that it speaks of. Very nice, Carlos.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I have always held a deep fascination for the medieval romances, especially those of the Arthurian age. Joseph Campbell's hero's journey said it best when describing archetypes in literature. I believe that Guinevere is such a symbol for she personifies love. Both in good and tragic light. It was my attempt to capture these dichotomous ideas about love but I'm unsure of how to speak of it from a female perspective which I feel this poem needs. It is an unfinished work because of it. But the few lines do capture a sense of loss and regret. And perhaps an aspirational vision to love greater. Thank you again my friend for your comment.

[Richard Knox]

I worry that I don't present the female perspective authentically in my writing, too. When I write a female character, I draw on all my observations of the women around me, which I continue to learn from. But, more importantly, the women in my writings are woven from the personalities and experiences of women I know or have known. I think that lends veracity to the characters, but it also makes me hesitant to share my writing with those women for fear of making them feel exposed or exploited, even though the characters are fictional.

[Throwing Romeo]

What a wretched time to live
for most.
Though' a darling time to visit.
Lovely words echoe evermore.
100/100

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly for sharing your thoughts with me. I agree these are difficult time we live. And also the most vital reasons we need art more. So we never lose faith in our humanity. Thank you again for reading this small poem about a figure that to me embodies love in written literature.

[Temperance]

Moonchild dance, dance in the wind, Maiden of virtue and sin.... She was that! In my novice opinion, I think this was nicely written and enjoyable to read. Thank you!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Temperance for your thoughts on this piece of poetry. A poet's opinion is never novice to me because artists recognize art, whether good or bad. And as a admirer of your work I take your thoughts as a welcomed compliment. I wish I could have written a longer poem because to me Guinevere is such an iconic character. She personifies love, both the good and mistaken aspects of it. But to truly capture those aspects I feel are more for a woman to speak to. Because my perspective is tainted by my bias as a man. Only a woman can truly speak to the profound virtues of love. That is the beautiful quality women inherently have as creators of life. Thank you so much again, and keep on writing, because we as a community look forward to more art from you.

[Temperance]

Maybe in a separate poem you, or someone, could write more about her but, for this poem, I think it is the perfect length. You said a lot in a few words. It speaks for itself. Thanks again for such kind and supportive words. I am truly humbled...

[Abraham Patrick]

Short and sweet, creating the mood of love and death.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Abraham for sharing your thoughts on this poem with me. I wanted to write more but when I read what I had written I felt almost instinctually that it was a complete piece and should stay that way. I feel it has more power because of how short it is. I really had fun writing this wonderful poem. Thank you again my friend for your comment.

[William Michael Reeves]

Hi Carlos!

Your poem took me straight to a song by Crosby Stills and Nash. Guinevere. May I ask for the English translation? Fy anwylyd? I'll have to listen to the song again, then read the poem. That would be something if they relate. I think they do. It's a beautiful song.

[William Michael Reeves]

Just read Richard's review. Got it, my darling.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you William for your comment. Richard revealed its meaning but I would like to share why it's repeated twice. Because one for Arthur and another for Lancelot. To bridge the two segments of this very short piece. I wish I could have written more because I have always held such an admiration and profound love for the character. When writing this piece I was taken back to the ideas of Joseph Campbell on the hero's journey. To me Guinevere is an archetype. She embodies the idea of love. Both the virtue and sin of this most human of qualities. It is why out of all the characters in the romances she is the most relatable. Because she exhibits that flaws that we do. By the way I love Crosby, Stills, and Nash. My favorite all time song of theirs is Southern Cross. Thank you again my friend for your comment.

[William Michael Reeves]

They hoped Neil Young remembered. I wonder if he does?

[Richard🖌]

Prynhawn da, Annwyl Carlos 🛡️

Ahhh, the famed and favorite romantic Welsh tale of a ménage à trois between the Kingdom of Camelot's King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and Syr Lancelot is instantly brought to mind, as I feel quite sure it will be for many of those who read this most excellently rendered and presented suite of Unmetered Rhyming Couplets, radiated from your most appealingly fertile imagination.
Fy anwylyd, | My darling
Fy anwylyd | My darling
Raised in a Welsh speaking family, it was natural that it would easily translate.
It's truly a beautiful, and for me, a most delightful, romantically depicted, epic from my ancestral homeland.
L8: I read "an" as and depart (or) 'n depart. The following caught my eye:
"In a field of clover Guinevere lay
In pastel colors of green and grey
Moonchild dance, dance in the wind
Maiden of virtue and sin" (simply wonderful, Carlos, in imagery and flow)

I cannot thank you enough for such a rare moment shared, Fy Chyfaill Da ⁓ Richard🖌

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you, Richard, for such a kind and heartfelt review of this piece. It truly was an honor to write and pay homage to its ancestral roots. Guinevere is such an iconic figure in literature and to me represents the archetype of love in written language. In the romances she has both revealing and mysterious qualities about her. But her passion and love are undeniable, which draws me to her by my Spanish heritage. My writing by nature is emotive and seeks to elicit a response within the reader on that level. I was both surprised and happy to find that within this very short piece it seemed to resonate with many of the community members, which I am grateful for. But above all else is to know the importance of Guinevere and her essential representation in the history of literature, as well as life. She is the aspirations of love both in the virtues and sins which make us simply human. And because of those qualities she is by far the most relatable character of the romances. I wish I could have written more about her. But what I have speaks volumes to how I see and admire the woman that is Guinevere. As well as the beautiful culture that has given her to us. Thank you kindly again for your comment. It means the world to me as an artist.

[Richard🖌]

The honor and thanks, Carlos, is humbly shared.🖌