2. Love [100 poems challenge]

2.          Love

When you have been captured by pirates
And hauled up insanity’s cliffs
By a hippopotamic landmass
Of a giant;

When pursuit has not been thwarted
By an ambidextrous swordsman,
Or the most dizzying intellect
In all of Sicily;

When the promises of a villainous prince
Prove false, and his clergyman
Is persuaded to pronounce you
“Man and wife”;

When dreams disappear in the pit of despair
As the six-fingered man
Leaves the poor Man in Black
Mostly dead;

You might be forgiven
For giving up hope.

So when Westley comes to the rescue at last
And four fine white horses are found,
Then you know it can only be
Wuv,
Twoo wuv.

22 April 2013

Comments: If you have not watched (or read) The Princess Bride you should. If you can quote it all the way through—and there are some who can—then you will recognise that this uses many phrases from William Goldman’s script. The rhythm is a bit uneven, but I like it enough that I might go back and polish it one day. If you wanted a more romantic poem, or something a little more serious, and so you think this poem is a bit of a cheat, just remember “Well, who says life is fair? Where is that written? Life isn’t always fair.”

Themes to come: 3. Light; 4. Dark; 5. Seeking Solace; 6. Break Away; 7. Heaven

Explanation about the 100 poems challenge here.

Edited to add (17 Sep 2013): As explained earlier it was Lee Sargent whose 100 days drawing challenge provoked this whole poetry-writing exercise. I followed his artwork as he pursued the challenge — about a month ahead of my own journey — and at the end he asked me to pick a favourite. I’d liked many of his, for a variety of reasons, but I particularly loved the one he did for “Fairy Tale” (which is theme 61) … and he was kind enough to offer me the original. His choice of fairy tale matched my take on “Love”, which is why I’m including a copy of his artwork here. The original looks even better than this, as my scanner has not done justice to the watercolour texture and the fact that the colours are simultaneously more muted and intense (contradictory, I know, but I can’t explain it any better).  I’m sure those of you who know the movie will love Lee’s interpretation.