Monday, June 7, 2010

MAGPIE/ Prompt #17


photo/ willow/ magpietales


 ANNE

I hope the window I stand before in dreams,
finally opens and lets the sparrow out. 
Tomorrow I will lose my certain touch,
eyes that could kiss,
my taste for wine, 
and the velvet skin brushed lightly 
by he who gives my name to myth forever.

Black light, a dim glow that seems to be rain,
runs down the walls. 
I hope that God grants me my wish
to hold my eyes open. 
I will become a rivulet of red. 
But I'll keep my eyes open. 
I beg the executioner 
to say I never closed them. 

I pray that courage eats my fear, 
so I may watch my ebbing soul. 
The sparrow flies out the window. 

Who stands there? 
Who is that who stretches arms out to me
and whispers so low that I have to walk closer?

Come here, child, she says, walk with me. 
I have a prize to show.  
She leans over a headstone,
brushes leaves and tiny spiders,
spinning across the open eyes of memory.
  
Forever the sandstone head of a girl amazed. 
Eyes open and waiting,
and a gasp that never makes a sound.   

If I should die before I wake? 
Am I awake before I die? 
Tomorrow.

ANNE BOLEYN
Born  1501-1507?  Died  May 19, 1536/ Tower of London


@copyright/all rights reserved/ 2010


Attention!! Don't forget to look in on the other bloggers for this prompt!!  magpietales


http://www.minblu.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lynxny

49 comments:

A Cuban In London said...

It's got a mix of spookiness and romance. You got the balance right.

Greetings from London.

Lyn said...

Greetings to a Cuban-
Thank you ..Just so! Guess I'm going a bit gothic!

Stafford Ray said...

So you are poor Anne under the axe! And you are given the opportunity to see yourself depicted as a little stone figure with eyes open on your own grave, so you know you will be granted your wish?

Sheri said...

...hi lyn! what a wonderful twist you've finished with-it's unlike any i've read so far! this surely makes me glad that i don't remember most of my dreams!! so well done in spite of my being creeped out :)

Lyn said...

Hi Stafford-
Thanks for visiting..yes the little gal got her wish..because fiction works..and then there's life itself!

Lyn said...

Hi sheri-
Thanks so much..glad I don't recall most of my dreams either..
and as you probably know, I do like creepy!!

Paul C said...

A wonderful take with historical allusion. So many sparrows have been trapped, longing to fly out of the window to freedom, acceptance, and vitality.

Lyn said...

Hi Paul-
You're very generous..thank you..
Freedom is it, isn't it?

Tess Kincaid said...

I found myself racing through this piece to find out who was executed. I've always been enamored with Anne Boleyn. Lovely and powerful, as well, Lyn.

Brian Miller said...

my prayer is that i keep my ees open always as well...a brilliant magpie!

Lyn said...

Hi Willow-
Thanks for this prompt..I too have always had a thing for Anne..in fact I was sort of "looking" for her when I visited the Tower!! booooooo....

Lyn said...

Hi Brian-
So kind of you..yes, eyes wide open..in life..in poetry!!

Helen said...

If a Magpie can be 'rich' ... that is what yours is! I love history and especially that of Henry VIII and the beautiful Anne. Thank you for the gift.

steviewren said...

The whole time I was reading I could see her walking to the executioner. Very well done!

Unknown said...

Another excellent poem, Lyn. Two lines that I especially liked are:

"I will become a rivulet of red." and

"Come here, child, she says, walk with me./I have a prize to show."

I think Anne was something of a schemer (weren't they all?) and not necessarily undeserving of her fate but Henry had a rather drastic system for unwanted goods!

Lyn said...

Hi Helen-
Great thanks..I particularly love this history..

Lyn said...

Hi steviewren-
Thanks..I sort of got carried away, and I'm glad!!

Lyn said...

Hi Derrick-
Thank you..I watched the "Tudors" and indeed Anne was a schemer (and quite a dish on the show).. but off with her head?..I guess that was Henry's style!
I look for the best in folks who are going to be beheaded!!

Jeane Myers said...

perfect!

Kathe W. said...

perfect take on the Magpie prompt!

Anonymous said...

"I pray that courage eats my fear," That's a powerful prayer! Great work.

Lyn said...

Hi Jeane-
Well, I've never been perfect before...Thanks!

Lyn said...

Hi kathew-
Thanks so much..I really got a kick out of doing this prompt!

Lyn said...

Hi soundof...
Thanks for visiting! I do pray for less fear..every day!!

CHummelKornell said...

You nailed it! Knew it was Anne. Well done.

Lyn said...

Hi C Hummel-
Thank you..I liked her haunting face..what to do with it!!

Vicki Lane said...

Very nice! I always had a soft spot for Anne -- I think she did die bravely.

Lyn said...

Hi Vicki-
Thank you..It seems that several of us do have feelings for Anne!

rel said...

Lynn,
It could've happened that way. why not? Human history repeats itself and maybe you picked up the message through the ether.
Regardless: beautiful poem, if macabre!
rel

Lyn said...

Hi rel-
When I sit still, the ether really delivers..can't wait for my next message!!
thanks so much...

alexis nicole said...

I've got chills!

Lyn said...

Hi Alexis-
Just what I meant to happen..thanks for stopping by!

Tumblewords: said...

You've taken this to the next level - wonderful!

Linda S. Socha said...

Powerful. Beautiful. Your writing is deeper and finer each time I read. Wonderful take.
Linda

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful! Even though I have fonder feelings for Catherine of Aragon, i still felt sorry for Anne when i read her bio. Hello! Really shouldn't go for the guy who gave up his wife for you, he'll probably do it again! Oh well.

Lyn said...

Hi Tumblewords-
Thank you for your kind words...

Lyn said...

Hi Linda-
Thank you for reading..I'll just have to keep writing!!

Lyn said...

Hi Patience-
It's funny how we align ourselves at times..pure emotion..
Where was a poor girl to go? The glass ceiling was broken by becomong Queen/mistress..Henry's temp or keeping my head? hmmm...
Thanks so much for comment!!

Gabriela Abalo said...

I love it - a great song for freedom!

loveNlight
Gabi

Lyn said...

Hi Gabi-
Thanks so much for showing up! Love your blog and writing!!

~T~ said...

How would that fate feel? Nice tribute to a lady.

Lyn said...

Hi T-
I think the way it feels is the stream of consciousness I put her through..
Thanks for the comments!!

Helena said...

Lyn - that was a fabulous post.

'I beg the executioner
to say I never closed them.'

Loved how deep those words read.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

magnificent tale,

Lyn said...

Hi Lena-
Thank's for visiting..I'm so glad you enjoyed this!!

Lyn said...

Hi Jingle-
You are always so generous! Thanks

Anonymous said...

Ethereal and enticing - one must read on.

Lyn said...

Hi Sylvia-
Thanks for visiting..I did enjoy digging through this one!

Lyn said...

Hi Jingle-
But eventually we get back..good!! Thank you, always...

LinkWithin

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin