Lady Elaine


     Elaine a beautiful maiden both sweet and fair,
     Twined strands of pearls in her long dark hair.
     The people did love her as the Kings daughter,
     But most were won over by the kindness in her.
     One day after a joust her father in despair 
     Brought home an injured Knight for her to care.

     He was grand and valiant Knight the King did say,
     Yet unconscious and bloodied in Elaine's arms he lay.
     She tended him quietly in a simple orchard's keep,
     Where he for many a day remained in a healing sleep.
     Elaine knowing much of the Mother Earth's healing way,
     Waited patiently for him to recover day by day.

     The injured Knight awoke one fine summer's eve,
     And attempted  to get up with a mighty heave.
     Pain engulfed his body thus he laid back his head,
     And then scrutinized the room, the maiden and bed.
     Moving to his side she pleaded him not to grieve,
     Until he was well he shouldn't attempt to leave.
     
     The warm summer days soon passed to cool fall,
     Together Elaine and the Knight filled them all.
     By her hands his body was finally fully healed,
     Then one day their love with a kiss he sealed.
     In her eyes a happiness to his heart enthrall,
     Elaine's heart in response echoed it's call.
     
     One day on a warm grassy knoll his past he did tell,
     Of his life and loves before the joust where he fell.
     He assured Elaine the pains were buried in the past,
     Their love of each other for their lives would last.
     With his gentle words and touch her fears he did quell,
     There she laid with him under his seeming love spell.

     As months passed by the fatherly King did feel,
     That Elaine and the Knights love he should seal.
     On that great day a weary messenger did arrive,
     Asking if Sir Lancelot was well and/or alive.
     The Knight answered that surely he was real,
     That Elaine's love and wisdom his body did heal.

     The messenger pleaded the valiant Knight not stay,
     But go to the Great King Arthur's side right away.
     In  confused loyalty the Knight turned to Elaine,
     He must go to his friend before another minute wane.
     Yet assured her he'd return in a month and a day.
     With a kiss to her lips he turned and went away.
 
     Elaine waited patiently for the return of her Knight,
     holding the memories in her heart securely and tight.
     He'd return in short time he'd said so honest and true,
     No reason to doubt he'd not see his words through.    
     On the knoll by day she waited, her window by night,
     Ultimetly he never appeared on the road in her sight.

     One day when the winter's cold frost did disappear,
     In a jongleur's song Elaine a mysterious tale did hear.
     Of a the Great Kings strength waning,slipping from life,
     While a valiant Knight had taken to loving his wife.
     Elaine remembered her Knights past love for Guineviere,
     That he'd never returned because of her now was clear.

     Pain and anguish filled Elaine's heart and mind,
     Escape from it's cruel grasp she could not find.
     The kingdom tried with all it's wisdom and might,
     Encouraged her to give life and love one last fight.
     Elaine couldn't forgive or forget the Knight unkind,
     Everything she did and saw a forceful remind.

     A barge Elaine requested her father King give her,
     To the Great King's Castle be sent down the river. 
     Within it's grandness among flower blossoms she lay,
     By the time it arrived she and they withered away.
     When Sir Lancelot found her he felt a cold shiver,
     He'd forsaken her love, loves cruel killing sliver.

                   May 20, 1993


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all poems copywrited by Becky Goodrich
all rights reserved, not to be used without
expressed written consent