Shalott Revisited

Two young lovers in wakeful bed,
Love-talking after they were wed,
His arm a pillow for her head,
Remembered words, poetry said,
     Old tales retold of Camelot.
Learned the artistic jewel
Years before in grammar school;
Unwinding reflection's spool
     Envisioning Shalott.

Their lifetimes, year by year, went by,
Four babies came, sweet lullabies,
Sometimes laughter, sometimes sad cries;
Were they just two lone passers by
     Lost on the way to Camelot?
I, their last child, was not aware
Of private bedroom life shared;
He whispering in her hair
     Of life in fair Shalott.

My father died, he slipped away,
She lingered, telling love's sweet ways.
Impromptu, she relates one day
Of blissful nights hearing him say
     Sleepy accounts of Camelot.
There are two narrow graveyard plots,
Gray stone marked with lover's knot;
Someday time will give no thought
     Of them or of Shalott.

I, myself, am much older grown,
Allotted years are nearly flown;
When I lie down beneath the loam
Will I hear his soft spoken tones
     Repeat the dream of Camelot?
Near by me in that next tight tomb,
Close-walled, speaking in the gloom,
Echoes reaching as he croons
     The Lady of Shalott? 

Copyright, August 17, 2014
Faye Lanham Gibson
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Stephens Avatar
September 16, 2014 at 7:52 AM
Hi Faye, Thought provoking in it's artistry. As an artist with their brush. You surely are with the written word. Congratulations on your win. Regards Theresa xx
Meier-Hans Avatar
September 15, 2014 at 10:15 AM
Very beautiful Faye. Congratulations on your win.
Lindley Avatar
September 15, 2014 at 9:24 AM
Very nice write my friend. Was a pleasure to read.. Congrats on your win!!!
Mehta Avatar
September 15, 2014 at 1:43 AM
Nice write, congrats on the win, Faye
Meier-Hans Avatar
August 28, 2014 at 9:19 AM
Excellent poem. I enjoyed reading it.
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