Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 1990's, tagged daydream, Deep Water, gulls, Love, Maeberie series, poem, Poetry, reverie, sea on March 10, 2018| 22 Comments »
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A path leads down to the river,
the river runs down to the sea
where the gulls
and the zephyr that follow
bring naught but a daydream to me.
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He rides his steed to the chapel,
he coaxes his lamb to the lee
while the music
and footprints that follow
bring naught but a fancy to me.
.
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(c) 1993, 2018 Betty Hayes Albright
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(A Maeberie series poem, re-posted from 2012)
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged Deep Water, interlude, Love, Maeberie series, moon, passion, poem, Poetry on November 24, 2017| 30 Comments »
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Sometimes it opens
just a crack,
that heavy door –
and she will see
his lamp aflame
and though she’s not
the only one
to bring his tray,
his cup of ale,
she always comes
to mind the steel
in his eyes,
those eyes
that recognize the fool,
that see the masks
of dark agenda
in the winks of falsity.
.
She always comes
that he may rest awhile.
.
She lets him count
the gathers
and the pleating
in her bodice,
and she lets him
fold her hair
across his face
to hide his smile.
And she will stay
for just awhile
until the moon has risen
and he calls out
for the guard
to secret her away.
.
.
© 2012, 2017 Betty Hayes Albright
.
(a Maeberie series poem, revised)
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, tagged ashes, Deep Water, fire, goddess, Love, Maeberie series, memory, passion, poem, Poetry, Prometheus, time on September 27, 2017| 28 Comments »
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After the fire plays,
after he’s gone
she leaves her heart
in ashes
nestled on the bed
and slips outside
to bury time
in earth
where it belongs.
.
And sometimes
there’s a spark
when her trowel
hits a rock
and she smiles
at the thought
of that blazing
stand of man
and how she became
a goddess
when he touched her
with his flame.
.
.
(c) 1996, 2017 Betty Hayes Albright
.
(re-post from 2012, revised)
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged Deep Water, hunger, Love, Maeberie series, passion, poem, Poetry, stew, thyme, time on September 18, 2016| 6 Comments »
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(a Mayberrie poem)
.
Wandering through her garden
she could smell the vegetables
and began to hunger
for some butter-dumpling stew.
It had been his favorite long ago.
Row by row she harvested
sweet carrots and potatoes,
two turnips and an onion –
and over near the wildflowers
parsley and green beans.
All she needed now
was just a little thyme.
.
Pacing in the courtyard
he caught his reflection
in the pond.
Who was this king
to love a servant girl –
his young forbidden bride?
Alas, it must secret be
lest they have her head
for she was peasant born.
And now another battle loomed
far across the dunes.
All he needed now
was just a little time.
.
© 2012, 2016 Betty Hayes Albright
.
(This is a re-post – slightly revised.)
(For links to all poems in this series please click on the Mayberrie tab at the top of this blog.)
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged castle, distance, longing, Love, Maeberie series, Poetry, white on June 13, 2012| 19 Comments »
(a Mayberrie poem)
.
Her shawl gleamed brightly
in the sun.
She wrapped it tightly
in the cold of silent villagers
and climbed across the pile of stones,
breathing in the salt
of dried seaweed on the sand.
Looking out across the bay
she saw the cliffs of Mayberrie
and farther still, his castle.
(Was he pacing every hallway
or would he get some rest?)
Nothing stirred
except for something light
that flashed atop the tower –
no doubt just a gull.
.
The bandages around his head
gleamed brightly
as he took his leave
from rites and duty
fleeing court for solitude.
Up the spiral staircase
to the tower’s top he climbed,
and there he gazed
upon the sea,
and fishermen at peace.
Turning, he could see across the bay
to where her village rested,
tucked above the rocks.
Was she there or had she fled?
The beach was still
except for something light
that moved
along the shore.
No doubt just a gull.
.
© 2012, 2016 Betty Hayes Albright
.
(For a list of all poems in this series, please click on the Mayberrie tab above.)
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged conundrum, Love, loyalty, Maeberie series, peace, Poetry on June 10, 2012| 23 Comments »
(a Mayberrie poem)
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The countryside was still –
even birds
were waiting for a sign.
No one knew what happened
behind the castle walls
but rumors spread
there’d been a coronation.
Was he now her king,
or by his cousin slain?
She dares not think.
.
Royalty could never wed
a servant girl
but with the kingdom
now secure
in kindly reign
he knew the people would demand
that he take a bride.
But this he cannot do
for it would be a bigamy.
He dares not think.
.
On sunny days
she likes to haunt
the distant hills
with deer and wild hare
for company.
She brings them carrots
from her garden,
sometimes greens and herbs,
and whispers to them
not to wander
closer to the village:
they will a farmer’s arrow meet.
She dares not think.
.
© 2012 Betty Hayes Albright
.
See Part III, 5th verse:
“… just one name
between them now
and only the forest to know.”
.
(For a list of all poems in this series, please click on the Mayberrie tab above.)
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, tagged Maeberie series, Poetry on June 3, 2012| 22 Comments »
For those following the Mayberrie series, the poems should be read in the order listed below. (There might be a few changes to this – and new poems will be added as the story continues… and it will. Thank you for reading!)
.
(Latest update to list – July 16, 2012)
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Prologue
Reverie (her daydream)
And the rest of the story (so far….)
…
and some day, the epilogue will look back 100 years with:
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged candle flame, clairvoyance, Love, Maeberie series, passion, Poetry, separation on May 2, 2012| 34 Comments »
(a Mayberrie poem)
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Once a week
she braves the village,
trades her woven scarves
for bread and cheese,
and candle sticks.
She offers just a veiled smile
and searches every face;
she dare not speak
of things she shouldn’t know.
.
At dusk she climbs the deer path
to her cottage on the hill
and there she lights
one candle stick.
As wisps of smoke
slide up the wall
like lovers twined
she gazes at the flame and sees
the battle-weary men at rest,
tending to their fire.
And in the shadowed edge there stands
a single silhouette.
.
He turns her way
as though he feels her near
and as he does
she reaches through
the waxen light
and hangs her heart
around his neck.
Then throwing kisses
to the night
she banks the fire
in his eyes
and blows the candle out.
.
© 2012, 2017 Betty Hayes Albright
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged battle, Love, Maeberie series, parting, passion, Poetry, sorrow on April 27, 2012| 25 Comments »
(a Mayberrie’ poem)
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He commanded her to flee,
the troops were near,
a bugle called.
One more embrace,
one last locking of their eyes,
then go! he cried,
mounting his steed
and in his voice
she heard the heat
and so she fled into the forest
never looking back.
.
Tears stung her cheeks
as wild roses tore her skirt
and branches of the trees
reached out
grabbing at her arms.
She stumbled over coiled roots,
weeping thorns caught her hair
but on she rushed
away from shouts of boiling thunder,
to the castle wall –
knowing that before he rode away
he stopped
and silent, watched her go.
.
© 2012 Betty Hayes Albright
Posted in Deep Water, Maeberie series, Poetry 2010 - present, tagged Love, Maeberie series, passion, Poetry, secret on March 8, 2012| 35 Comments »
Sometimes it opens just a crack,
that heavy door
and she will see his lamp aflame,
and though she’s not the only one
to bring his tray, his cup of ale,
she always comes
to mind the steel in his eyes –
those eyes, that recognize the fool,
that see the masks
of dark agenda
in the winks of falsity.
She always comes
that he may rest awhile.
She lets him count the gathers
and the pleats
in her bodice,
lets him pull her hair across his face
to hide his smile,
and she will stay for just awhile
until the moon has risen
and he summons for the guard
to secret her away.
.
© 2012 Betty Hayes Albright
.
For the next poem in this series, please click here for “Guiltless”.
Click on image for more info.
Seasonings 