Lillandra's Gift
Once upon a time on a
rocky isle in the Hebrides lived a young woman with skin of pearl and hair as
red as a sea star. It was said her voice
was so sweet, so angelic, she could calm the restless sea with a lullaby.
One night, a terrible Nor’easter roared in, stirring the
ocean to angry froth and slamming waves. As the lighthouse flashed, she stood on the cliff and sang,
her dulcet aria taming the waves into a path, leading the village boats home.
She sang,
and she sang,
and she sang
until all but one of the hundred
and eight vessels were accounted for, safe in the harbor. She fell exhausted to the sea grass, needing a moment to
rest before singing again, but sleep took her and when she awoke, the sea lay smooth
and dark and quiet as a kitten.
And the last boat?
She scrambled to the edge.
Below her, wood and pitch were strewn upon the rocks and surf, and one
splintered board bore her name, painted in sea star red – Lillandra.
Her sorrow flew from her throat in a dirge so poignant and bittersweet
the rocks themselves wept to hear it. The sea churned, gray and dismal, at her
despair. Wind billowed her skirts like a
sail and, with a final mournful cry,
she fell
fell
fell
into the regretful sea.
Fear not for her, for the sea loved her and her haunting lullabies and trilling madrigals. And
when she fell, it caught her in its frigid embrace, depositing her unharmed on
a fine sand beach, waves gently lapping at her heels with salty kisses.
Her eyes opened to a stout young fisherman, all calloused
hands and briny eyes, washed up beside her.
Her gift from the sea.
297 words
How absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me a bit of e.e. cummings, with the repeat of and she sang and fell.
It stands alone perfectly, yet would work as a bigger piece.
Wonderful, my friend, just wonderful.
Oh, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!! I love it!! So dreamy and tragic and then that final sweeping twist!! Two enthusiastic thumbs up!! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above - bravo!!
ReplyDeleteYou gave me shivers, and I was quite overcome at the end! Gorgeous and poetic...
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely bloody brilliant - almost a poem, visual as well as lyrical, stunning imagery, hugely imaginative. One big YEAY.
ReplyDeleteVery well done. Love how the formatting makes it sing.
ReplyDeleteAh, a happy ending! Lovely and lyrical, thanks for your 2nd entry!
ReplyDeleteAah... So pretty! And a lovely ending.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely, with both depth and lightness. I love the shape of it.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, one of the best entries in this contest. I read this and cried, and cried, and cried with admiration.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful doesn't even begin to describe.
Absolutely wonderful. the story painted it all before our eyes. I have no words. This is a great piece.
ReplyDeleteThis was so beautiful! It had the feel of a true fairytale. I loved it! :)
ReplyDelete