Chaucer Smiles a Greensleeve's Dream

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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2009-01-21 05:39 PM

Chaucer Smiles a Greensleeve's Dream

By lute, or flute,
when the sound
of the melody comes,
and the pianissimo
quality is there

even a violin
will lend itself
to open doors
upon a cool night’s air

walk, then, along with me,
upon the stones,
to a scene,
past the mist, towards
the revelry,

and Chaucer smiles, a bedeviled smile
as roast venison is carved
and soundly plattered

while ale is poured
and voices chatter
this dream in which
he would find himself,

Oh, Chaucer’s smile is bedeviled

for now the tune comes round
and round
he himself would hear a softer
sound
there within the maiden’s breast,
where his head would
likely rest

Oh, Chaucer’s smile, bedeviled…

For he heard the tune
e'en before the bard,
he heard spirits play
there in the yard,
the notes were surely
his in heart
for a poet like he
could imagine the art

of a melody
such as what a maiden
would sing,

alas, my love, you do me wrong

and he saw the maiden
there in the mist
dance to a tune which was
still childless
there in the harvest moon
he swore,
he saw her dance
and more

Aye, Chaucer wore
A bedeviled smile…

[for my friend who plays the hammer dulcimer...]

Lighthousebob
Member Elite

since 2000-06-14

Posts 4725
California

1 posted 2009-01-21 07:18 PM

Well, now, I imagine 'Greensleeves' would sound amazing played on the hammer dulcimer and playing in the background. Anyway, you've created quite the 'Canterbury Tale' here with its fair maden and bedeviled smile (smile, but not dedeviled) and I also imagine your friend will really really enjoy this one.

Good job and God bless,

-Bob

Bill Charles
Member Patricius

since 2000-07-11

Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now

2 posted 2009-01-21 07:36 PM

Sunshine - enjoyably different read, very nice write...

BC

steavenr
Member Elite

since 2003-11-17

Posts 4058

3 posted 2009-01-21 11:52 PM

I love your style...drawn in by the title (fantastic) and not disappointed...there was such an aura about this...it exuded atmosphere

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

4 posted 2009-01-22 01:35 AM

Brava, dear Sunshine! *hugs*.....jo

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

5 posted 2009-01-22 04:10 AM

I just LOVE the melody of 'Greesleeves' it is such a traditional haunting beautiful render.

This is mood well placed. I dare say ol Geoffery would step right up and play the part quite well.....

Well done dear Sunshine.

Eric

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural

6 posted 2009-01-22 12:04 PM

A beauty penned!

ARCTIC WIND

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

7 posted 2009-01-22 12:28 PM

Love this, Sunshine. Chaucer is smiling.
Ida

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

8 posted 2009-01-22 12:55 PM

This just had so much that is Karilea - (and I am sure I am leaving out dozens of elements) the story-telling magic, the life-like visuals, the bubbling excitement, the haunting nostalgia, historical delight, wicked-eyed Chaucer, and probably my favourite, the lute, flute and violin music - and after the poem ended, the dulcimer! I, too, as everyone I am sure, love Greensleeves and can hear it now on the dulcimer. Thank you for this treasure, Karilea.

Owl

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

9 posted 2009-01-22 03:26 PM

Sissie...How sweet the sound coming from the place you contemplate with a bedeviled smile.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

10 posted 2009-01-23 04:29 PM

So many things got destroyed in the storm or in the warehouse or in transit... but one thing that made it intact... and with a bedeviled smile *G*... was a Chaucer figurine I picked up at a library conference several years ago.

So... I had an extra visual as I read this... but he wasn't needed. Your words needed nothing. *S* Fantastic!

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

11 posted 2009-02-08 01:09 AM

Sunshine,

This is wonderfully perfect as it sparks my imagination.

Thank you, beautiful one.

Alison

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