A/N: The inspiration for this poem evolved from reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's , hence the views on King Arthur and his lineage do not necessarily match up with the views of well-known Arthurian legend.
Igraine
The end of earth is Tintagel,
Where the Duke of Cornwall dwells,
Where waves crash and where waves swell --
Here a lonely burst of hell
For Igraine to rest upon.
Then through mists a' day was wrought
Visions that she had not sought;
Soon after sound of hooves had brought
Two riders from Avalon.
A fairy sister, small and dark,
Her shining eyes with foresight spark'd,
And Taliesin, wisdom mark'd --
To Igraine they did embark
All Fates entwine thereon.
"The High King lies in death bed chill'd,
Not long for earth, a spectre still'd,
But now's the time for fortune fill'd,"
Said they from Avalon.
"Into the mists our isle fades,
Now but a memory betrayed,
For Roman priests will not be swayed
That God and Goddess all are made
As One across aeons.
And trapped in cloud, the realm grows lonely,
These men of late becoming pronely
Proud to worship one God only --
Proud to curse fair Avalon.
"They care not that all did exist
Aside the Goddess, gently kissed,
Once by love; but now by mist,
A mist that swirls and curls and twists
And contends with thine land yon.
Yet stars show ways to alter fate --
When the High King lies dead in state
You, Igraine, shall take a mate
To rescue Avalon."
But at their words Igraine's lament
Didst issue forth to grave extent,
An adverse pawn full of torment --
A pawn for destiny's intent
In every life foregone.
For lo! in all her days stars sighed
Of what her time on earth implied,
And all her dreamings cast aside
For the good of Avalon.
"When young was I, and fair of head,
You sold me to the Grendel's bed!
Four years gone by I have been wed
And now you think to grant instead
Me to the Pendragon?
What gives you, Viviane, the right
To bless me with this cursed plight?
Let the fog become the night
Ringing blighted Avalon!"
Thus Duke of Cornwall's wife declared,
Bright eyes a'flash and shoulders squared --
How Viviane and Merlin dared
To think her pleased to be compared
To a sacrificial swan.
She cared not that, forth from her womb,
Should come the blessed savior whom
Would soon be pitted 'gainst the gloom
'Round waning Avalon.
She would refuse her sister's plea,
Her destiny she would not cede,
As Uther's Queen she would not bleed --
Yet in the end, as Fate decreed,
Igraine begot a son.
A shining boy of Cross and Clan
Meant to spread peace across the land,
Legend and myth at his command --
Arthur of Avalon.
1- Tintagel: the castle home of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, his wife Igraine, and daughter Morgaine.
2- Avalon: a legendary island in Britain; it is said to be the resting place of King Arthur.
3- Taliesin: meaning "shining brow" in Welsh; the mythology of the same culture portrays Taliesin as a wizard and bard gifted with prophecy. It is a name interchangable with Merlin.
4- Grendel: the monster in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem "Beowulf."
5- Pendragon: Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain and father to the legendary King Arthur.
6- Viviane: Igraine's sister, and Lady of the Lake of Avalon.
7- Cross and Clan: the King that would succeed in bringing peace to Britain would have to be one followed by both Christians and the Tribes, or Old People -- Arthur was born of Uther of the Christians, and Igraine, royal blood of the Tribes.
A/N: Reviews are greatly appreciated, especially in the form of constructive criticism and suggestions.
