Very sad and faerie.
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| La Belle Dame sans Merci http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7267 |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | La Belle Dame sans Merci |
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Silently, Dick watched his son climbing the hill behind the holiday cottage where they were staying, breath labouring and coiling in misty wreaths behind him as he bent to the task. Ever since the first afternoon when he had wandered off by himself he had insisted on being left alone on the rolling moors. What he hoped to find only Dick knew, for the night before he had come to find him. When his father stumbled across him, Rix was lying back in the coarse scrub, brown curls mingling with the dying heather and catching on wet grass. Sitting down next to him, Dick looked out across the final rays of the sunset, fiery red fading until it tinted the grey night sky. By now the mists were coming down, creeping slowly across until they shrouded the two people in a wet, icy blanket that chilled to the very bone. “It was here that I first met her,” said Rix suddenly, looking across at Dick with an earnestness painful to see. “She was so pure and innocent, so perfect, like a tiny, fading rose, withering away. It felt like I had to protect her, to hold her close and never let her go. Somehow I could just tell that she was something I would never find again, so ethereal and mystical. It was right here.” The way she walked meant that the sun shone brightly behind her, blinding me with its glare, creating a halo around her neat head, so childishly enthusiastic. She seemed almost to glide, her bare feet not hurt by the prickles, and as she passed I felt an overwhelming desire to reach out and touch her, just to see if she was real. It was possible to see through her, almost, the way her white gown brushed the ground. Together we walked for a little way, until I found a daisy patch, and then I made her a wreath and other adornments. She was as delicate as the flowers, so that I hardly dared to touch her, and held my breath as I placed the crown on her head. When I pushed on the bracelets I caught her fingers and she made a tiny mewling sound, as if it hurt but caused her pleasure, all at the same time. Suddenly I lifted her effortlessly into the air, she was weightless, laughing breathlessly. I pulled her down and held her close to me, pressed against me, so that I could feel her tiny body and almost her heart beating against mine. When she kissed me it was like nothing that I'd ever felt before, like the world could never be the same again now that I'd felt true love. But without me even letting go she wriggled free. Together we picked flowers, and she found me all sorts of things, making me taste spices and rarities that I never had before, until it seemed as if we were somewhere else, some other worldly land. Everything was so beautiful, but when she talked I didn't understand, at least until she kissed me again, so soft and lingering. Sun beams danced off of her, and when I tried to catch her she laughed and ran, singing to herself. She led me to a place, so mystical and magical that butterflies danced outside the cave and she flung herself on the grass bank above it, sobbing heart-brokenly. I couldn't think what the matter was, but I turned her over and kissed her face until she stopped, and shut her eyes contentedly. I've never seen anyone look so peaceful and innocent before, but she was enchanting. We just lay together, holding hands, listening to each other breathe. Everything was so still and peaceful, and the sun so warm, that I felt myself falling asleep, like one already in paradise who knows that he need search no further. Gradually it all slipped away, until the sun was warm on my cheek no more, and her icy fingers weren't in my own, and it didn't matter if I never woke up again. I dreamt such odd dreams, of men from the past and the future, all more pale even than she, but more solid and real somehow, like men from the dead. There were princes and gallant knights, and I longed to join them, but they were always just out of reach, calling and crying for “la belle dame sans merci”. It made my heart beat faster, and I longed for her to be there again, to keep me safe from harm. In the gloaming I watched them turn and taunt me, crowding all around me until I had to push them away, fight them off. They kept chanting until I was nearly deaf, and I wanted to scream but I couldn't draw breath. Then suddenly I sat up, awake, and the sun had gone down and the dew set in over me, because it was nightfall and I was right here, where I first saw her and fell in love. So now I have to come out every day, until autumn cedes to night, in case I ever see her again. I must see her again, she is my lifeblood, my nectar, I cannot be without her. Every evening I must sit and wait, watching for her through the mist, until she comes back to me and holds my hand and kisses me all over again. How can I ever leave when I don't know if she is safe, if she loves me as feverishly as I love her? | |
| Author: | Abi [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: La Belle Dame sans Merci |
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Very sad and faerie.
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| Author: | Nightwing [ Tue Feb 02, 2010 4:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: La Belle Dame sans Merci |
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I love this poem, and I love the CS twist you've given it! Thanks, Ariel. | |
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