Bride to Be (part six)
Bride to Be (part six)
Now ask me, did I love him
Did I set my mind at schemes, did discover for the trying, how
To the watchtower hill the daughter of a king
Might walk as the risen sun, repulsing sight
My maid and page in train at my command
I lowered myself within the earthen fort
to the level of the camp
I moved aloof to their ladder, climbed
While men behind hands gazed
Until my own look catching theirs, the overbold
Warned I might recall a face
Canst thou judge, archer, that rider below, the insignia
He bears
I see red of madder, yellow from the dyers’ weed
He cupped his eyes obedient to me
Murmured, shy of his peasant’s speech
“Lady, we know the rogue for Alderic
Hold from the felling of him, done right enough
But there…our captain has it so of us…”
At my father’s bidding, yes
How strong the wind blows here!
And with a sleeve I wiped my cheek of tears
Still bent o’er this, cuff of my underblouse, fluttering
The archers crimson-faced, mortified at my distress
So fearful, each, to speak a word, to touch me
Loosed I the map I’d stitched in plain flax, so as to bear the weather
I have no lettering, child, and nor did he
But I had marked the place I meant to ride to
In figures crude, hands linked, himself and me
Lines Attached
Bride to Be (part seven)
(2019, Stephanie Foster)