Now Known, The Lady of Shalott

I only yearned for sight of life,

for glimpses torn from curs-ed gaze.

What bore the witchcraft? None could tell.

But still, I sat, chained to its ways.

 

While peasant, lover, king, and guard

continued on as others do—

I leaned in, shackled to the web,

the tapestry of all I knew.

 

No vision past those greying walls,

no sun or stars to light my eyes.

Only the haunt of shadows—still,

that playful mocked me with their lies.

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When in the mirror I would see

the days of Heaven gracing all,

The only part of play for me

was looming cloth from chair to wall.

 

Attempted still, each morning new,

I’d sing and hope the whisper told

was nothing but nightmarish dream,

and life was waiting—strewn with gold.

 

Yet fear and warning held me fast,

to hardly see reflection’s ‘spans.

There Camelot, in gilded light,

rose up her towers’ hopeful chance.

 

I only longed to see with eyes

what others lived from day to day.

Instead, a mimic tore my heart

and left me sickened of the stay.

 

Oh Camelot, thy glory held

as paradise to Earth from High!

Why could I not partake of thee?

So close—there weaving dreams, sat I.

 

Year after year, the colors blend

from threads injustice daily gave,

the mirror—cursed and blessed for me—

my breath of life and promised grave.

 

On fateful eve, that bless-ed sin,

Sir Lancelot, in gallant stride,

unknowingly, begraced the tomb

that ere before, I did abide.

 

And then in tortured weakness saw

this knight emblazoned with my King—

a vision for my bleeding heart

that only spun for fleeting dream.

 

At once, without a thought or wait,

I fled from shackled, mirrored wall.

My eyes beheld the flit of love

and all from sight—my hope did fall.

 

From side to side the mirror cracked,

revealing fate that I had feared.

The hex that bound me to that room—

now broken, time and dying neared.

 

The hour had come, too long postponed,

when curse would grip my feeble life.

No days were spent as Lady Fair,

of mother, or of loving wife.

 

Embracing all I knew to come,

fled I to bless-ed shore below.

For though none ever called my name,

I would not leave this world unknown.

 

Affixed a cross, before the helm,

for only Savior guides the way.

The light of life, amidst the dark,

a flickering of candle play.

 

My fears subsided as I saw

the world I never knew before,

and drifted on in restful sea—

The Lady saw her Heaven’s door.

 

I dared not look in strength of days,

for curse withheld the joy of sight.

And never love had rescued me

from numbing pain and daily fight.

 

My name, engraved before the prow,

so all would know in Camelot,

the one whose shackled soul was freed—

Forever, Lady of Shalott.

© 2017 Cassie N. Lung

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