A glaze of ice on the water of the lake
The whip of the cold north wind in my hair
The gunmetal sky spilling fat snowflakes
Hurry home to wife and hearth and fire
Up ahead the chimney smoke is but a wisp
I urge the horse on, as apprehension grows
The house is dark, no lanterns light the way
As steed and I struggle in the deepening snow
I leap from my mount upon entering the yard
Tie him quickly to the post and hasten cross threshold
Inside I find only cold and empty rooms
And note upon mantle above fire banked to coals
‘Dearest husband, I’ve given you a way
Find another woman to keep you warm
One who will not disappoint, fail to give you sons
Fill her belly, find comfort in her arms
I beg your leave and your wish for well
I return to my own father’s home in shame
I relinquish my privileged place
It was my honor to take your name
But now I give it back so you may take another
Take a lively, fertile girl with hips for giving birth
Who’ll keep your house and hearth
Bring the sound of children’s laughter and mirth
Farewell my love, I’ve taken only my clothes
I’m riding the old mare for she’s no good to you
Do not try to stop me, it’s my heart’s desire
Your happiness is worth more than mine times two’
I sank to my knees in anguish and deep distress
For even familiar roads in snow would be precarious
Yet she couldn’t have made it too far along
I returned to the horse and set off in chase
The snow had all but obscured their tracks
And yet I soon picked up their trail into the forest
Thank God, old Molly was surefooted, true, but plodding
For in the woods, were dangers more treacherous
Wolves and bears and highwaymen, even in the storm
Would prey upon a vulnerable woman and her mare
I pushed my horse recklessly along the blanketed road
Trying to keep my wits and not give in to despair
Up ahead amidst the trees, barely visible through the snow
A tiny rider cloaked in grey, upon a dappled mount
Standing in the stirrups, bow drawn, arrow aimed
At circling wolf, alone and foaming at the mouth
I hurried on, drawing my sword from its sheath
But watched as she dispatched the wolf with arrow’s tip
Then with tears of joy I pulled my love from saddle
And with loving kisses warmed her lips
‘My sweet you cannot leave me, I need you more than air
I want you more than food or water, I love you more than life
You are worth more to me than a dozen sons
I live for your laughter and companionship, my beloved wife’
Her eyes bright and shining, pools of pain and sorrow
‘I am sorry love, I thought I should set you free’
I kissed her cool mouth softly and cut off her words
‘Come home darling, your place will always be with me’
Meg, this is absolutely gorgeous!
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Thank you! Kind of a story in a poem. 😊
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Exactly! And such a lovely one!
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I’m so glad you liked it!
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*sigh* so very lovely, I adore it!
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Thank you, Dee! ✨💖✨
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Wow, Meg! What a beautiful story.
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Thank you, Kay!
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You’re welcome. I truly enjoyed it.
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And I love your new photo for your avatar! So colorful and cheerful!
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Thank you! I found this cool app that has all sorts of cartoony filters. It’s fun! Lol
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Awesome! I’m thinking of changing my blog a little for the new year…
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Oh??!! I’m excited to see where it goes….I enjoy yours so much, Meg. 💜
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Not so much in content… But I am thinking of changing the header image and the profile pic. Plus the year of drinking adventurously will end! I have to find some new trouble to get into! 😜
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Lol!! Awesome. I’m sure you won’t have any problem with that. 😜
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Nope! 😈
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Oh, this is wonderful Meg!
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Thank you so much!
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Doc, I am in tears. Absolutely beautiful. 👏🏻👏🏻
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Aw! Thank you so much!
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Absolutely!
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❤️
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This is beautiful and romantic. That he loves her so much even in is time, that sons or whatever else does not matter to him as much as his wife does. I’m happy he came searching for her!
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Thank you Mandi, I like to think there are men of this sort in any time period. True heroes! ✨💖✨
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A rare opinion for those times when a woman was likened to a brood mare and heirs were everything.
A fine work Meg.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Thank you David! I’d like to imagine men like that as true heroes! Huge hugs to you as well!
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So sad, so joyous. I’ll raise a bumper to your poetry talent! Cheers: from two of fifty years.
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This is a departure…and touching.
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Thank you. Yes. A bit different. A fairytale disguised as a poem. Do you really like it?
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Yes I do. Of course if it was me I would re cast it as a bleak psychological domestic drama where the woman insistence on pleasing her husband would wreck havoc on both of them, but this works much better. I haven’t forgotten small cuts you know.
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Not all stories have to be bleak psychological dramas. Only half of them… And Small Cuts? Ooh, have you been thinking about it, then?
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Yes, I do get to most things, in time and in a roundabout fashion. I will keep you posted.
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I am intrigued! Looking forward to it.
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It’s nowhere near ready yet. Soon hopefully.
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No hurry. If we delay, I will repost the original four and set up your installment.
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Grand, and let’s not forget Distant Light.
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No, of course not. I am eager to work on that with you.
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Soon
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I know they don’t, I am not averse to poking fun at myself you know.
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I do know that. And it’s sometimes irresistible to join in the fun!
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Such a lovely tale and so nice that he sees what treasures he already has. Beautiful rhyming. (Do give up the Year of Drinking Adventurously but don’t give up the drink!!)
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Thank you, Peter. Yes, I have to find a new adventure for the next year. Give up the drink? Never!
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Lovely Meg, very romantic, thanks for the tears. Have a great evening and a wonderful week ahead. 🙂
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Thank you, Mia! I am glad you enjoyed it. Have a great day today. 🙂
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You’re welcome Meg, and thank you, wishing you a great day too! 🙂
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This was so beautiful Meg, it rocked.
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I’m so glad you liked it. Thank you!
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It was beautiful Meg. And on another note, it is my birthday today.
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It is?!? I hope it’s a wonderful day! Are you doing anything special?
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I’m going for a family meal soon.
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Enjoy!
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I will do that! The day is going amazingly.
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Meg, this is amazing! Beautifully penned…I guess you were in a romantic mood when you wrote it and that cynical Meg was bound and gagged 😉
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Thank you! Yes! But damn her anyway, she doesn’t stay down for long… 😀
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Lol
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Love this. Beautiful story, Meg 🙂
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Thank you so much! A bit different from what I usually write. 😉
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