The Ballad of the Sparrow and the Happy Prince

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freewheelin
Member

since 2005-04-09

Posts 53

0 posted 2005-04-13 10:21 AM

Below the sad sombre ceiling
Of cloudy smokes and smokey clouds,
Once laid a statue all of gold
With solid feet and arms of bold,
Jaden eyes with sense of healing
Wrapped humbly with majestic shrouds.
Those who came across behold!
They'll be blessed with a warm feeling
That'd spread gently among the crowd.

For he was known as the Happy Prince.
There stayed a sparrow who'd gladly sing
The beautiful melodic songs of spring
Up upon the Prince's shoulderside,
Keeping his side in through the wintry night.

Though the cobbled piazza ever since
Has never again seen the Prince's face.
A stoned governor has taken his place,
Stretching broad and loud his filthy palms,
Reaching the crowd with his stealthy mind.
From behind his desk he hurts and harms
The values the Prince has left behind.

Beneath governor's feet lay asleep the sparrow sweet
And the Prince's leaden heart, who refused to leave apart
The sparrow's grounded wing, which softened the sounds of spring.
Beside the Prince he safely sleeps, while the leaden heart safely keeps.

--------

The Happy Prince was the saddest being of all
Raising his gallant ruby sword standing tall.
Then flew the sparrow onto the Prince's shoulderside
Whom he asked to stay for a sole whole day,
And whom he sent for a favourous flight,
Carrying his ruby bright where the orphans lay,
Keeping them warm through ev'ry winter night.

Day by day flew the sparrow along the city floor
Sending gold offerings of the Happy Prince alone,
Whilst slowly wearing away the Prince's solid tone,
Peeling his golden skin to feed the people poor.

Until the Prince was no more gold
And the winter grown ripe and old
And the Nights grew freezing cold.
The tempestuous air bark with a dozen howling roars
And the sparrow's days numbered with a single palm
'Til the snow iced the tranquil shores,
'Til at last
The sparrow's song was dead and calm.

As he kissed the Prince's face,
The winter dragged down the sparrow,
As his body drops swift as an arrow
Unto the pavement below.
Where for a thousand nights and days,
Thousand will come and go
Passing along like harmless walking deads
Never glancing once nor twice unto the fallen wings
Of the humble little sparrow.

And the winter froze the Prince as well
And shattered him into a hundred pieces.
And to the pavement his pebbled body fell,
And there has ceased the Happy Prince.
Though his leaden heart was still intact
Lasting a thousand years before it cracks.

There both laid side by side
The leaden heart and the lifeless sparrow,
Left unscathed both day and night
By the people thick and narrow.

-------

Though on one fine day upon Paradise,
The King told an Angel meek and wise
To travel and search the city bare
The two most beautiful objects there.
And towards the city the Angel dives and flies
To the cobbled piazza in the cloudy city where
The sparrow sleeps and the leaden heart lies.

Bearing these two treasures the Angel returns
To the Paradise where awaited the King.
"Well done," he said from his seat of golden ferns.
"Here the sparrow will sing his songs of spring,
And the Happy Prince will stay joyfully
In this Kingdom of Mine for all eternity."

-based upon "the Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde

bslicker

Member Elite

since 2000-12-04

Posts 2321
state of mind

1 posted 2005-04-13 10:27 AM

very well done.
bernie

A smile a day keeps the world in smile's.
Bernie Slicker

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

2 posted 2005-04-13 10:47 AM

freewheelin
A delight to read.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

3 posted 2005-04-13 11:01 AM

WOW! what a treat!

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

4 posted 2005-04-13 03:27 PM

I usually don't read anything with the word Ballad in it because I don't like lengthy poetry or prose, but this is excellent...didn't seem drawn out or timestaking, just a good flowing read

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

5 posted 2005-04-13 03:34 PM

Excellent piece...very much enjoyed.
Hugs~Nancy

For it was not into my ear you whispered
But into my heart
It was not my lips you kissed
But my soul

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