literature

The Lady of Shalott

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Literature Text

The True Ballad of the Lady of Shalott





I hum my song alone at last

Amidst the towered wave

For so long did my passion thrive

For with me, make thy grave



I dreamt a dream of golden eyes

Whose stare doth pierce my soul

Adorned in armour well and rich

For past me did he stroll



“Dear Knight, do hear me!”

I cried aloud, for thus his eyes did wrong

A curl did form on his fair lips

And sang a faeries song



Unlocked the curse, destroyed the hex

And took me for his wife

Methinks my tower sees some joy

Now none would know my plight



But thine is fickle, sees no sorrow

My love is wretch and woe!

And bitter light must turn again

To Gwenhwyvar it did go



I see thee tread, with grace and pride

And to the window he did look

And smiled then a somber grin

A thousand kisses then he took



And of the spell, I dare not speak

For love forbids my wayward tongue

With one embrace, he took his leave

What more could I have sung?



I waited then, to no avail

The answers yet doth known to me

I see my love will not return

My sorrow is mine own decree



“Leave not” I know, but I must go

For thy love’s one last time

I pray my death come quickly now

Thus joy is all but mine



So here I wait, for fate to turn

Why must the sea be ever vast?

For this is my last breath to give

I hum my song alone at last
This is very similar to the original “Lady of Shalott”, yet I made my own ideas of her emotions. The back round I created in this ballad is that The Lady of Shalott is under a curse that she must stay in a tower, and if she leaves, she will die. She sees Lancelot in his armour and falls in love with him, and he stays with her for a while, but he sees Gwenhwyvar and falls in love with her, leaving the lady of Shalott. She still loves him, and knowing that she will die, she sails to Camelot (“Elaine lay as though she smiled”) and dies of grief, or of a broken heart before she reaches the shore. (5-13-03)
© 2003 - 2024 theinquisitions
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RecharuKua's avatar
Yes, I love it. It seems to keep to Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem of the same name, while giving a much more up close and personal look at Lady Elaine. If you haven't already, it's well worth seeking out Loreena McKennit's sung version of the Tennyson poem.

Anyway, I'm rambling..
As I was saying, I really love what you did with this, it's quite lovely. Thank you for sharing :)