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The Merchant's Daughter

by Cathlyn Cartier

Behold a tale of long ago. The tale of a rich merchant and his
Ever lovely daughter. Youngest of three, was she, but her beauty and charm
Alone set her apart from the others.
Upon hard time their fortunes fell, overcome by great debt
The once prosperous man, sold all and fled
Yonder, with daughters, to reside in the seclusion of the great forest.

As the years passed, the family became accustomed to their
New status, although the daughters elder
Did murmur and complain.

The news reached them one day, that their ship
Had come in, once thought lost, it held promise to redeem them.
Ever optimistic he journeys to town, imploring his daughters to await his return.

But his journey was in vain, the ship had been seized to pay debts. Poorer than
Ever he sets off in a storm, hoping to return home before darkness. Hopelessly lost
And near frozen he
Stumbles upon a lost palace. Entering in, he finds shelter and food,
The likes of which he'd not tasted in ages.

Hearing a noise in the hall, he prepares to greet his host, to face instead
A terrifying creature. The old merchant pleads for his life. He
Vows to return if granted leave to bid his daughters farewell.
Even though he consents the monster demands "Your life will be mine, or you'll return with a daughter.

Willingly she must pledge to remain in this place, sacrificing her freedom for the love in her heart."
Even though she was frightened she remained 'til one day a new love overcame her. "'Til
Death do we part"she vowed to the monster with a man's heart, a true Prince with whom she was happy ever after.

11/09/2002

Author's Note: This poem was inspired in part by a story in the 1958 first printing of "Shirley Temple's Storybook" I found at HalfPrice Books. This is my first attempt in MANY years to write a poem with intent.Usually I just let the words flow and see what I get. My thought was to tell the story in a reasonably brief acrostic form, which more difficult than I imagined. Good, bad or indifferent, this is what I managed to make out of my original idea.

Posted on 11/09/2002
Copyright © 2024 Cathlyn Cartier

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Christina Bruno on 11/11/02 at 06:46 PM

Very pretty, Cathlyn :)

Posted by Michele Schottelkorb on 10/04/03 at 03:16 PM

disney, watch out!!... this is wonderful... great use of the form :)... blessings!

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