The Gypsy child (sestina)

[Artemis]

The gypsy child awoke from summer dreams,
Surrounded by autumnal wonder.
The palest sun created her treasure
Reflected in those caramel eyes.
Sleep forgotten, barefoot she ran
To the silent lake where she splintered the glass.

Agile and strong she made fluid that glass,
Soon warmed by movement and inspired by dreams.
Each morning alone it was here that she ran,
The water held pictures, making her wonder
A different painting each day, to open her eyes
To her it was simply her only true treasure.

She was poor in materials but so rich in real treasure,
In her life she saw beauty through untainted glass.
A knowing wild strength shone like jewels from her eyes
With a depth that held power and the simplest of dreams.
Magnetic with presence, her ways made you wonder
Mother Earth had a daughter and with nature she ran.

She shivered, grabbed her shawl, from the water she ran
Through golden leaves now autumns own treasure,
Sleepily maybe nocturnal creatures did wonder
But soon it was calm and the lake returned to glass.
Her family slumbered still wrapped warm in dreams,
She wandered through lichen with warm smiling eyes.

Here was her fantasy world, the trees had eyes!
Fairies danced where the unicorns ran;
She was caught up and frolicked playing out girly dreams
Finding elves and mean goblins, pixies and treasure!
A real cut diamond in discarded old glass!
This was her own world of magic, joy and wonder.

A shout from an elder, she knew they would wonder
As the light ran out from her Romany eyes,
If she’d returned from her swim in the glass.
Back to reality quickly she ran
Forgetting the goblins and all of her treasure,
Until tomorrow she’s lock away her dreams.

So like summers lightening the gypsy child ran!
Concealing and burying her personal treasure;
No man and no beast would play spy to her dreams!


This is my second attempt at Sestina ... I hope you like it

[Max]

I think that these are the hardest poems to write. My hat goes off to you Kerry, not only for pulling this off, but for style as well. The words that you chose to repeat really gave a majestic feel to this. These lines made my heart soar...

"She was poor in materials but so rich in real treasure,
In her life she saw beauty through untainted glass.
A knowing wild strength shone like jewels from her eyes"

If only we could all be so lucky as the gyspy child in this sense. Much enjoyed my friend

[Artemis]

Thank you so much for reading this Max, it is long so I appreciate your time reading it. I love this form and like to use the old brain a bit sometimes lol ... hugs, Kerry xx

[Harklight]

Bravo, Kerry!! You've written a charming story and sustained the form through the six stanzas. That's impressive, especially for your second attempt. Tiny nit in the envoi: though you aptly used three as line ends, it should include all six end words. A great topic for this style and stanzas three and five are standouts for me. Good work. H x

[Artemis]

oh thanks for the advice hon, I'll remember next time hehe, K xx thank you all for the lovely comments, I find this particular form quite hard ... K xx

[prometheus]

What a great story Kerry....this was thoroughly enjoyable and so full of wonderful imagery. This could so easily become a childrens story book, as there is a lot of meaning within this piece that they could grasp and learn from........exalt for such an enchanting write.

[ladyoftheword]

I love reading this...I just wanted to get lost in the dream myself.

My favorite liines that you wrote....Such a vivid image you paint!


Here was her fantasy world, the trees had eyes!
Fairies danced where the unicorns ran;
She was caught up and frolicked playing out girly dreams
Finding elves and mean goblins, pixies and treasure!
A real cut diamond in discarded old glass!
This was her own world of magic, joy and wonder.

I love love love this!!!!!

Excellent
lOTW