Chapel Of Saint Lucy

Chapel Of Saint Lucy
© Surazeus
2024 10 31

While strolling in castle garden of herbs 
to gather ingredients for her lunch, 
young Princess Lucienne pauses in the heat, 
but as she sips cool water from the fount 
she hears voice of her father behind bush 
softly command, "Take Lucienne to the lake." 

Watching blue butterfly on the red rose, 
Lucienne gasps with joy, so she listens close. 
"Take Lucienne to the chapel by the lake 
on pretension she shall go there and pray, 
give her this gold silk scarf as gift from me, 
then strangle her till she draws breath no more." 

"Strangle her and bury her in the garden 
with no marker to indicate her grave." 
Shocked with horror at his decree of death, 
Lucienne covers her mouth to mute her scream. 
Voice of her valet Godred answers shocked, 
"King Henric, why should I kill your sweet daughter?" 

Growl of rage from chest of her father stuns 
young princess who trembles in frantic fear. 
"Lucienne is not true daughter of my seed. 
Her mother Ermesinde, that forest witch, 
tricked me with lie that I fathered her child, 
but Lucienne looks like her horseman I killed." 

Dazed with confusion in shock of despair, 
Lucienne stumbles up stairs up to tower room 
where she kneels and gasps in terror, 
but jumps to her feet when Godred appears 
to explain her father the noble king 
wants her to pray at Chapel of Saint Lucy. 

Shaking with terror as he drives the coach, 
Lucienne listens to sparrows sing in trees. 
Standing with Godred by the chapel door, 
she grips his hand and gazes in his eyes. 
"Instead of killing me, take me away 
and let us sail somewhere across the sea." 

Holding hands, Lucienne and Godred run free 
through sun-suffused woods to the sparkling sea 
where they sail fishing boat north from Bretagne, 
faces wet from spray and tears of fierce joy, 
then land on lush shore of Hibernia 
where he builds small cottage in shady grove. 

While strolling in cottage garden of herbs 
to gather ingredients for their lunch, 
Mother Lucienne pauses by shining pool 
to watch Godred teach their three skillful sons 
how to construct the sturdy fishing boat, 
then eat stew on the lawn in sunset glow.