Boy Blue (Poetry Monthly)

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 15 Jun 2015
  • 1857 reads
6 comments
 
His sweetheart she rose early, one bright and sunny morn,
the sheep were in the meadow and golden glowed the corn.
At a weekly Wednesday market she had many wares to sell,
as she must buy a wedding gown, some satin shoes as well,
for yesterday he’d asked her, “Will you marry me next spring?”
and Mary, quite contrary, said she’d wear his wedding ring.
 
As sweet as wine, her goodbye kiss, she gave to him that day,
he’d said be sure to hurry back, but be careful on the way.
Before she turned the corner, he a kiss to her did blow,
she tossed her curls and waved to him, in her hair, a yellow bow; 
on the handlebars, a basket, full of produce she had grown
in her pretty cottage garden from the seeds that she had sown.
 
Like the wind she sped to market, seemed her bicycle could fly;
church-bells chimed, choir-boys sang as she sat there on cloud nine,
but alas, her trip to market was to reach a tragic end,
an errant sheep strayed on the road as she sharply turned the bend.
Poor Mary, cycle, flowers and all, came tumbling down that day;
her yellow ribbon at her feet, she lay lifeless on the hay.
 
In a tiny church upon the hill, on his knees he sobbed and prayed,
and swore his life he’d give for hers, then he heard her call his name.
“My garden must be full right now of sunflowers and sweet peas.
Why not take them to the market and do with them as you please.”
So he took her wicker basket, filled it full of flowers she’d grown,
for to reap the final harvest from the seeds that she had sown;
to a beggar at the market he gave the flowers away,
and bought a crimson rosebush to adorn her simple grave…
 
Beneath a haystack, sat and wept, as golden glowed the dawn;
the sheep were in the meadow and the cows were in the corn,
and through his tears he saw her face and heard her softly say,
“My heart will break if you should go. Please promise me you’ll stay?” 
He gave to her his solemn word that a vigil he would keep;
no food nor water touched his lips as he drifted into sleep,
as hand in hand the couple lie where a crimson rosebush grows
and a yellow ribbon hangs forlorn, while a north wind softly blows.
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Love

Comments

Submitted by love_writing on

I enjoyed this, the rhyming works well and thought the ending was sad yet romantic. 'as hand in hand the couple lie' creates a poignant image. 

love_writing

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

lw - my thanks to you.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Tina, read this in dead of night and forgot to comment because bairn suddenly slept. It's lovely - traditional verse form,  fresh summery images and imagined with vivid scenery and sadness at its close.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Can't tell you what your words meant to me, Vera.  It's one of 'those' poems, for many reasons.

 

 

Submitted by rayjones on

I really enjoy classic poetry, a beautiful sad love story filled with moving imagery heartbreak and final fulfillment, I truly enjoyed it Ray

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Ray, you don't know how rewarding your words are for me.  I too love classic poetry...hence the poem, and I am thrilled you liked it too.

Thank you, so much, and I hope you have a peaceful weekend.smiley

Tina