The Merchant's Daughter by Cathlyn CartierBehold 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
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