Lady

I came upon a regal maiden Draped in a pinkish hew of light, She sat nestled in a bed of auburn hair Checkered and entwined with lilacs Her supple form , raised up on slender elbows Her body in embrace with the light, chin held high Like a stone, given away only by her neck Lifted to the world like a neck awaiting a headsman; My first fancy was to reach up and take her in my arms But upon approach I feared the razor sharp thorns that nestled her The vipers and the shadows that circled her So I crept up to this bed of thorns and vipers To the sound of my shuffling, she looked down upon me with a knowing gaze And I unrolled my heavy tongue and said to her "Name me a name, so that I can remember you for who you are" Then she smiled the smile of a wizened parent And sang unto my aching form "I have had many a name, From the passion of the moment between star-crossed couples, to the pride of a warrior on his countries soil From the cradling arms of mothers And the willful bond of brothers" And so I knew her for lady love And I braced the thorns and wrestled the vipers. © Samir Georges 2010