In Vision's Downy Hues

by fairydancer

I sat awhile on Glaslyn's banks
where Oak spire stood so proud and tall,
yet watched sad leaves that longed to fall
from weathered stems that bent to weep.

And from the skylark's sweetest call
to rutting stag, it seemed as though,
all nature's show was in full glow,
which seemed contrary to my eyes.

But while I paused, strange grief did flow
as ears were struck by bay's resound,
one surely cast by loyal hound,
that lived like mem'ry on the wind.

My eyes then waned as heart near drowned
from fervour's blight that wrenched and bound;
my head now pitched on hallowed mound,
its mind ensnared in ghostly dreams.

The fire-glow shimmered as eyes then found
a regal chamber raised in stone,
and in the corner stood a throne
beneath a ceiling beamed with oak.

There near the hearth, a cot alone
made cheery note amidst grey block,
and yet, no infant there did rock,
but eerie silence filled the room

'cept for a faint and rhythmic knock
from wagging tail of faithful mutt,
cavorting gladly 'side my strut;
yet all about was smeared with blood!

In anger dressed right from my gut,
my arm arose with sword in hand
and struck the cur where he did stand,
for he had slain my greatest love.

His dying shock I cruelly scanned,
yet death's last throes, a cry did show;
my baby smiled in safety's glow,
soft caste in vision's downy hues.

Emotions pushed to overflow,
for lying on a pelt nearby,
a fearsome wolf was forced to die
by trusty hound whose love was wronged.

And though the tears weren't mine to cry
yet still I sank to bended knee,
in awe of dreams from one sad tree,
my face now drenched with clarity.

And when I woke, was shocked to see
my trembling cheeks with wet were flicked
from where my own dear dog had licked
my face to carefully rouse me.

No more in vision's downy hues,
my eyes, to scenery, returned,
each blade of grass, they surely yearned,
serenity epitomised.

And I was left with what I'd learned,
to think that this was just a dream,
when voice upon the wind did gleam:
"It is a memory bestowed."

Then as the sun increased its beam
upon white waters gaily sparked,
I saw a gravestone nearby marked:
"Here lies my Gelert, faithful hound."

Write A Review

IDYLL (Idyl) Poems contest entry

This idyll is based upon a real legend. The village of Beddgelert (pronounced Beth-hell-ut, and meaning "Gelert's grave" or "Celert's grave") sits in North Wales (UK) near the River Glaslyn. Gelert's Grave is set beneath a giant Oak tree with a tombstone that reads:

Photo is called "gelert's grave" by benjiesmum, from photobucket.

"It is now accepted that the village of Beddgelert took its name from an early saint named Kilart or Celert, rather than from the dog. The "grave" mound is ascribed to David Prichard, landlord of the Goat Hotel in Beddgelert in the late eighteenth century, who connected the legend to the village in order to encourage tourism." (Taken from Wikipaedia.)

Idyll
a : a simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life or pastoral scenes or suggests a mood of peace and contentment.
b : a narrative poem (as Tennyson's Idylls of the King) treating an epic, romantic, or tragic theme.
(Taken from www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)

Written as quatrain stanza's, in iambic tetrameter (8 syllables in unstressed/stressed order) with abbc rhyming where the "b" rhyme from the first stanza becomes the "a" rhyme of the next, and so on.

Downy - soft (adj)
Hue - shade, comes from the old English hiw - beauty
Glaslyn - River in North Wales, UK
Bay - a deep howl of a hound or wolf
Resound - to ring or echo with sound
Mem'ry ' memory in 2 syllable form
Fervour (US fervor) - great intensity of feeling
Pitched - fell, rested
Raised - built
Beamed - supported with wooden beams and lintels.
Block - stone blocks in the wall
'side - aside
Cur - a viscious mongrel dog
gaily - happily

I hope you enjoy the following song: "Matty Groves" by Fairport Convention:

Pays one point and 2 member cents.

You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.

The Idyll of Gelert, a Faithful Hound (see notes)

In Vision's Downy Hues

by fairydancer

The FanStory Store For Writers

Your Poem On A Mug