Here's a poem inspired by a gorgeous painting, For Simple Vanity, by the artist NightsongWS on Deviant Art. You can see it here:
https://www.deviantart.com/nightsongws/art/For-Simple-Vanity-373593615?epik=dj0yJnU9YzNsYjNWZ3RIUGlTc1Ayc196ZVNBTlFDQ2NXbmJ2dmsmcD0wJm49Q2JZZjFXa1FCYVE1bUNMRXJHeTdiQSZ0PUFBQUFBR0FWekx3&fbclid=IwAR309pDlJBBZnX9DeeCcmIM5Nk0Gb3N4XGI_5jLKgfzZqdaZihXVJJTYv3M
In a lonely castle perched upon a lake
A lord kept his lady— now asleep, now awake
And once in a while he would the journey make
To keep her away from the fire, from the stake
From mages and wizards he sought counsel true
But none gave him cause to do aught but rue
Her undead, unknowing, still the years they flew
Would forever his hands in blood imbrue?
At great cost, found he a mirror strange enspelled
His lady stepped forward as if strong compelled
An arm reached through, she was seized and held
While the force that felled him was unparalleled
Curtains drawn, cobwebs lingered
Candle flames they burned and flickered
Eldritch witch her false lies whispered
"Bound to a revenant, milord?" she snickered
"Foolish prince!" the witch she cackled
"Your drugs have her completely addled
Let me out, I must work unshackled"
Beside the mirror, the log fire crackled
Red oak burned with seasoned smell
White ash sparked, it seemed to swell
Willow sputtered, a hearth's death knell
From mantelpiece rose book and bell
Bell, book and candle bright
Oval mirror reflecting light
His lady turned her figure slight
Her third eye shone, 'twas quite the sight
She hauled the witch through by forelimb
Tripped her to fall upon mantel rim
Shoved her in fire where she writhed and flailed
Watched as she burned, as she railed and wailed
Caught in silken web that now did fray
Thought her lord with unease, Now, should I pray?
She scoffed - "Sacred woods burned I night and day
"Should you doubt me, prithee, walk away
"No more raw meat for me, I pray
"Be done with false notions or I'll hie away"
Her temper was on full display
She seemed most revived in every way
Her cheeks now shone with rosy hue
She batted her lashes like she was wont to do
He hoped...yet was loath to misconstrue
Still - "Lady, certain things are overdue"
Said she, "Give it a rest and tend the fire
"Hearth's flue will disperse the evil pyre
"Daybreak will usher in the dawn
"So all will learn what's right and wrong
"Dawn will shine with One True Light
"And no more shall we fear the Night."
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Haha, so I tried to go dark with this one. However, I was not able to go dark, and it got funny towards the end. This is what happens when you try to do something that you're not used to. Never mind, it was a good exercise to see if I can write in another genre. Apparently not.
Have you tried to write in a genre that you're not that comfortable with. How did it go for you?
Don't forget to vote if you liked this poem, and do comment below to let me know if you write in more than one genre.
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Inspired
PoetryOrigin of the word "Inspire" - Middle English "enspire", from Old French "inspirer", from Latin "inspirare" - 'breathe or blow into' ('in' = 'into' + 'spirare' = 'breathe'). The word was originally used of a divine or supernatural being, in the se...
