Katherine Simmons
LOST
Unwelcome dark, a bleak cold rain, obscure the homeward trail.
I must press on against the pelt of autumn’s sudden winter.
Shipwreck. No salvaged freight. My family fortune failed.
But look – ahead the fog unveils a faint uncertain glimmer.
With grit I heave against the pelt of autumn’s unfair winter.
I dream a castle on a rock, a fire-lit hearth, and feast.
Then in the haze the fog unveils a brief uncertain glimmer --
Warm light – a home, safe haven offered freely by a Beast.
Lit castle on a rock looms forth, a hearth like home, a feast.
Rest, old self, let fear release and sleep in warmth and peace.
A fire, a home and haven for me given by a Beast;
and in the morn I’ll journey home to daughters I must please.
My soul finds rest, for fear has fled. I sleep in peace,
while daughters pine for wealth’s bequest, entitlements of jewels.
And in the dawn I’ll start for home to daughters I must please,
and one who longs for me alone, and just one rose – whose sisters call her fool.
My daughters pine for wealth’s bequest, they covet gowns and jewels.
A ruined man, I fail to please. I go with empty hands.
But one longs most for me alive and just a rose. Her sisters call her fool!
Then, as I leave the Beast I see a rose, blessed flower of this strange land.
A ruined man, I’m scorned by most for feeble, empty hands!
I’ll pluck that rose -- it cannot harm, a single blossom steal.
A rose among enchanted vines, blessed fruit of this strange land!
Enraged by thieving, the Beast appears, sets forth a devil’s deal.
I take the rose -- it does no harm, a simple flower steal,
Its magic flows from Beauty’s grace, broad petals, soft and red.
Weighed down with grief, the Beast appears, demands the devil’s deal:
return I must in two weeks’ time, or a daughter in my stead!
Its beauty lies in Beauty’s eye – its petals, lush and red.
With wide deep grief and all hope lost, I mount my horse and ride.
Return I must in two weeks’ time, or Beauty in my stead!
Then soon I’ll face another loss -- my life or my dear child.
With broadest grief and hopeless cry, I mount my horse and ride.
At last I’m home. Collapsed with fear, I drop the stolen rose –
for soon I’ll face a deeper loss – my life or my own child.
I tell the tale – my shame unveiled – the trail of theft I chose.
At last come home, and weak with dread, I drop the stolen rose.
Shipwreck. No salvaged freight. My family fortune failed.
My whispered tale, deep shame unveiled, the sinful crime I chose.
Unwelcome dark and bleak cold rain erase the homeward way.
Katherine Simmons was born and raised in Indiana, but spent much of her adult life in New York. A practicing lawyer, she recently returned to her native state where she has had the good fortune to encounter other poets from whom to learn and with whom to share the art. She has three grown daughters and enjoys Indiana woodlands, her Australian Shepherd, the changing seasons, and oatmeal sourdough bread.
LOST
Unwelcome dark, a bleak cold rain, obscure the homeward trail.
I must press on against the pelt of autumn’s sudden winter.
Shipwreck. No salvaged freight. My family fortune failed.
But look – ahead the fog unveils a faint uncertain glimmer.
With grit I heave against the pelt of autumn’s unfair winter.
I dream a castle on a rock, a fire-lit hearth, and feast.
Then in the haze the fog unveils a brief uncertain glimmer --
Warm light – a home, safe haven offered freely by a Beast.
Lit castle on a rock looms forth, a hearth like home, a feast.
Rest, old self, let fear release and sleep in warmth and peace.
A fire, a home and haven for me given by a Beast;
and in the morn I’ll journey home to daughters I must please.
My soul finds rest, for fear has fled. I sleep in peace,
while daughters pine for wealth’s bequest, entitlements of jewels.
And in the dawn I’ll start for home to daughters I must please,
and one who longs for me alone, and just one rose – whose sisters call her fool.
My daughters pine for wealth’s bequest, they covet gowns and jewels.
A ruined man, I fail to please. I go with empty hands.
But one longs most for me alive and just a rose. Her sisters call her fool!
Then, as I leave the Beast I see a rose, blessed flower of this strange land.
A ruined man, I’m scorned by most for feeble, empty hands!
I’ll pluck that rose -- it cannot harm, a single blossom steal.
A rose among enchanted vines, blessed fruit of this strange land!
Enraged by thieving, the Beast appears, sets forth a devil’s deal.
I take the rose -- it does no harm, a simple flower steal,
Its magic flows from Beauty’s grace, broad petals, soft and red.
Weighed down with grief, the Beast appears, demands the devil’s deal:
return I must in two weeks’ time, or a daughter in my stead!
Its beauty lies in Beauty’s eye – its petals, lush and red.
With wide deep grief and all hope lost, I mount my horse and ride.
Return I must in two weeks’ time, or Beauty in my stead!
Then soon I’ll face another loss -- my life or my dear child.
With broadest grief and hopeless cry, I mount my horse and ride.
At last I’m home. Collapsed with fear, I drop the stolen rose –
for soon I’ll face a deeper loss – my life or my own child.
I tell the tale – my shame unveiled – the trail of theft I chose.
At last come home, and weak with dread, I drop the stolen rose.
Shipwreck. No salvaged freight. My family fortune failed.
My whispered tale, deep shame unveiled, the sinful crime I chose.
Unwelcome dark and bleak cold rain erase the homeward way.
Katherine Simmons was born and raised in Indiana, but spent much of her adult life in New York. A practicing lawyer, she recently returned to her native state where she has had the good fortune to encounter other poets from whom to learn and with whom to share the art. She has three grown daughters and enjoys Indiana woodlands, her Australian Shepherd, the changing seasons, and oatmeal sourdough bread.