Through misty, murky forests I wandered, searching for the rare flower I quested for; a beautiful but deadly nightshade: so tempting yet sinister; alluring yet ominous. On my valiant steed I rode confidently, through menacing swamps, bubbling pits of monstrosities, past looming trees, whose arms beckoned me close; their gnarled fingers threatening to throttle and forever imprison me. As midnight passed, mist surrounded me: ghastly, distorted ghosts seeking to consume me.
Suddenly, as shadowy fog parted, I saw a glowing beauty; skin like porcelain: doll-like, almost unreal; luscious hair: cascades of black silk tumbling down her back; the colour of midnight: obsidian darkness. Her tender cheeks were scarlet red, like the juice of ripe cherries.
Like a stunning flower she appeared- my oasis in a harsh wilderness. Then I looked into her eyes. Oh, her eyes! I cried, as I felt myself being dragged into two murky pools of darkness: obsidian black- just like her hair and then I began drowning.
Drowning…
Drowning in unknown waters, unable to breathe or think. And, just like that, it stopped. When I once again gazed into her enchanting eyes, I saw, not pools, but burning fire: raging, raging inside her. Like red, fiery phoenixes ablaze they devoured with insatiable hunger, consuming rage and devastation, leaving destruction in their path.They compelled me to stare-to stop breathing, thinking, blinking. Just like the mysterious pools, I sensed danger but that wasn’t enough.
It never was…
She blinked. My head whirred as everything changed; her eyes, once dangerous portals transformed into innocent blue sapphire roses. Angelically, they looked up at me, pure, clear: utterly mesmerizing. Nymph-like she gracefully sauntered towards me, smiling entrancingly.
I was a zombie in her power. She radiated warmth, security, love: her tantalising touch sent blissful ripples of joy through me, like delighted butterflies sweeping through my insides. I sighed in contentment, whilst she caressed me gently, whispering intimately in my ear: voice like honey, syrupy sweet, melodic like morning birds’ song, calming like the tranquil sea, inviting me to visit her elfin grot.As she declared her irrevocable love to me, I realised that I too was enamoured with her. And I would be…
Forever…
Her dainty, delicate hand entwined with mine, I mounted her onto my magnificent steed. Past flowing rivers, gurgling mysteriously, we rode: carefree, untroubled. Her arms wrapped around my waist reassuringly and into my ear she sang the most entrancing, harmonious song; the words came alive as she uttered them, like dragonflies hovering in the air around me-humming darkly.
Upon reaching her elfin grot, I gasped at its obscurity; its lack of light. Her presence guiding me, we entered, gazing into one another’s eyes.There she wept; crying sorrowfully, until I shut her sapphire eyes with kisses four. Her graceful hands caressing my face, she sang, the ominous dragonflies materialising once again. Lying intertwined, she lulled me to sleep.
There I cried in despair, watching death-pale figures crying out in agony; men-kings, princes, warriors, all warning me…‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci hath thee in thrall!’ I saw their glassy eyes, staring listlessly, their mouths gaped wide warningly, their skin death pale.
Now here I awoke to find myself on the cold hillside: my eyes glassy, my skin death pale. My soul destroyed by fiery phoenixes, my heart drowning in murky pools. And this is why I sojourn here, palely loitering. Though the sedge is withered from the lake and no birds sing.
My quest complete.uest complete…
La Belle Dame Sans Merci: My deadly nightshade.
