"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
~Dead Poet's Society~
August 25, 2009
Blame Her Not
She was mortal and was loved, but fell victim to a darkness she had never known. Seduced away from her first love and enraptured by the force of the vampire’s gaze, she was bitten, and dying, came into the life of the immortal undead- and she knew it.
Her first love, from whom she fled, loved her nonetheless; and although he knew of her murderous and irrevocable desire for human blood, and although he knew the hideous secret of her new nature, his blame fell upon the thief who stole his mortal love away.
Blame Her Not
Can I cast blame for what she eats,
Or that she strolls where sunlight sleeps;
Or blame her that her skin is pale,
Whose lips are glist’ning red as ale?
Am I to cast accusing stares
And judge her not of wheat, but tares;
Or shun her for her blood-lust bent,
The girl whose ghostly heart is rent?
I saw her wand’ring in the chill
Amidst the fog and murky rill;
And starving- writhing there in pain-
She slipp’d into the town again.
Who knows where all that hunger led,
But townsfolk found another dead:
A victim’s corpse lay by the mill-
And yet I cannot blame her still.
-jwm
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Poetic Parameters:
Meter: Tetrameter (i.e. eight syllables per line)
Rhyme Scheme: A.A.B.B.C.C.
Stanza: Octet (i.e. eight lines per stanza)
Side Note:
The rhyme of line one and two (i.e. ‘eats’ and ‘sleeps’) is known as an oblique or slant rhyme, and was intentional. The rhymes attached to lines eleven and twelve are sight rhythms (much like the words ‘daughter’ and ‘laughter’) and are very legitimate forms of rhyme.
Another winner, John! Your accompanying photos always perfectly compliment your works as well... this one chillingly mesmerizing.
The poem itself has the silky flow and technical polish that is quickly becoming your trademark. Both the introductory commentary -- also nearly poetic on its own -- and the work itself speak to me of the relationship of our sin and being devored by satan, and Christ who nevers leaves or forsakes us... nor blames us. It teaches very spiritual lessons on many levels.
LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
... Hope you don't mind the repetition of my moving some of my Facebook comments here... for posterity :)
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