I’ve combined Jane Dougherty’s A Month with Yeats Day 5 and Day 6 Challenges into one poem.
“And like a sunset were her lips,
A stormy sunset on doomed ships;
A citron colour gloomed in her hair,”
–From The Wanderings of Oisin: Book One by W. B. Yeats.
‘Suddenly I saw the cold and rook-delighting heaven’
Beauteous she was there,
like a sunset were her lips
and citron gleams within her hair.
She sang a song to doom the ships
and though we knew to watch for her
her voice was softly sweet, and so beguiling
and with such sweetness, lured to rocks we were
to crash there on, while she sat smiling.
But as I sank beneath the sea,
a dolphin came to rescue me
from this cold place, this watery grave,
he carried me upon his back, from there took me away
from the siren’s call and the dangerous waves
to the shores of my home country.
And this is where I now will stay
in my home upon a hilltop bright
Heaven it is to me, I say
to see the rooks caw in murderous flight,
and I delight.
And yet, sometimes from out at sea
the siren’s melody still calls to me.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
“William Michael Rossetti described the picture thus: ‘The idea is that of a Siren, or Sea-Fairy, whose lute summons a sea-bird to listen, and whose song will soon prove fatal to some fascinated mariner.’”
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Love this and that ending- we know it’s wrong but we are drawn all the same!!
Yes, exactly. Thank you, Damien.
Some might read in this poem an ode to the stupidity of men…
Hahaha. I love your comments. 🙂
We’ve been talking and laughing about this kind of thing over lunch.
No lack of examples, that’s for sure. 😉
More’s the pity 🙂
Oooh, you gave me goose bumps. That yearning for something that could destroy us. I love this poem.
Thank you very much, Sarah! Goose bumps–yay! 😉
Once again you have delighted with an insightful last two lines
Thank you so much, Derrick!
This is beautiful Merril! I’ve been listening to old British folk groups lately (Pentangle for one) and this blends right in with my mood. So insightful into the frailties of humans…(K)
Thank you, Kerfe!
I was thinking of Sandy Denny the other day, and “Who Knows Where the Time Goes.” I could imagine her singing about sirens.
Absolutely.
Yes, this does have a ballad feel to it. And great sounds. And such lovely imagery. And makes me think of Tennyson’s “Ulysses.” So wonderful, all around. 🙂
Thank you very much, Jennifer! 🙂
Lesson learned, hopefully.
Perhaps. 😉
Uh oh! What a lovely rhythm.
Thank you so much, Luanne!
Hypnotic poetry, dear Merril! I believe you may be a siren, too. 😊
Awww–thank you, Rose!
It was my pleasure. 😊
🙂