(From the song of the same title, by Nickel Creek)1
The Lighthouse's Tale2
I am a lighthouse,3
worn by the weather and the waves,4
I keep my lamp lit,5
To warn the sailors on their way.6
I'll tell a story,7
Paint you a picture from my past,8
I was so happy, 9
But joy in this life seldom lasts...10
I had a keeper,11
He helped me warn the ships at sea,12
We had grown closer, 13
Til he sure meant everything to me.14
He was to marry,15
A girl who shone with beauty and light,16
And they loved each other,17
And with me, watched the sunsets into night.18
She'd had to leave us,19
The keeper he prayed for her safe return...20
She was coming home. Tomorrow. He must have everything perfect for her return. He worked all day and far into the night, putting things right in the living space of the lighthouse. Everything was neat and to make the place more inviting, he gathered wildflowers and put them in vases around the rooms.21
When the ship was sighted, he went to watch her come in and to wait for his love.22
But when the night came,23
The weather to a raging24
Storm had turned...25
He felt a sharp stab of alarm as the lightning cracked the sky and the thunder roared its feral warning. The wind began to scream and pick up the waves, hurling them at the ship in a rage, the storm growing in fury until it was near hurricane force.26
He watched her ship fight,27
But in vain against 28
The wild and terrible waves,29
In me so helpless, 30
As dashed against the rocks,31
She met her end...32
He watched helplessly, as her ship fought the storm futilely. In the end, the fight was lost; the ship lay ravaged and torn against the jagged rocks.33
Then, on the next day,34
The keeper found her washed 35
Up on the shore...36
The storm was over, and the sun was shining. All was seemingly peaceful. He walked the white sands, searching with the others, hoping against hope, that he would find his love alive.37
Ahead, he saw something lying on the beach, and broke into a run. As he drew closer, he recognized her dress. He felt something inside him shatter, as he realized his love was dead.38
He kissed her cold face,39
That they'd be together soon, he swore40
I saw him crying, 41
Watched as he buried her in the sand...42
Hitting his knees next to her twisted, broken body, he cried out to her, "My love, don't leave me!" His cry was in vain; she was already gone.43
Sobbing uncontrollably, he softly kissed her and lay her body gently down, covering her with the sand they had walked over so often.44
As he worked, he made a vow, his last promise, "I am coming to you, my love, we will be together soon."45
And then he climbed my tower,46
And off the edge of me he ran...47
He finished and stood, looking at the mound of sand for a moment, then turned and walked to the lighthouse he had tended so faithfully. He began to climb. Higher and higher he went, until he reached the very top of the tower.48
"Goodbye, empty world. I am coming, my love," he whispered and hurled himself from the tower to the rocks below...49
And the waves crashin' around me,50
The sand slips out to sea,51
And the winds that blow remind me52
Of what has been,53
And what can never be.54
I am a lighthouse,55
Worn by the weather and the waves,56
And though I am empty,57
I still warn the sailors on their way...58
Author notes
This is a sort of "songfic", which is, from what I gather, a piece of fiction written with a song in mind. I love Nickel Creek's music and this is what I see in my mind when I listen to "The Lighthouse's Tale".
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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i love that song, and the fic did a great job of conveying it... congrats...
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Sorrowful but with hope
A sad story, but with the tale of the lighthouse still shining the way for the sailors of present and future days, despite the bitter struggles and sorrows from the past, A nice metaphore of how even when love can hurt so much, there is nothing more but love in return. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and I could see the images as you described them. Thanks for sharing with AP ~ Juan
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Nope, he only threw himself off once...I wrote the story to illustrate the song...I did not write the song. Thanks for your comment, though, I really appreciate it.
~Tawnya~ -
very good
Very well written. The beauty of their relationship and the love they shared was very touching. This was an exceptional read.
I had one spot that I found a bit confusing:
And then he climbed my tower,
And off the edge of me he ran...
He finished and stood, looking at the mound of sand for a moment, then turned and walked to the lighthouse he had tended so faithfully. He began to climb. Higher and higher he went, until he reached the very top of the tower.
"Goodbye, empty world. I am coming, my love," he whispered and hurled himself from the tower to the rocks below...
Seems he through himself off twice.
thanks,
John -
Wow, thank you so much. This just came to me to write when I was listening to that song. I can't claim Nickel Creek's words as my own, but the rest is mine. As far as I know none of my pieces has ever been bookmarked before. That is quite a compliment to me. Thank you.
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Pass the tissues
You know, not a lot of poetry actually gets real tears in my eyes, but that was so...
Very beautiful, I love poems that tell a story, and this maybe a familiar one, but from a fresh perspective. Very well done.
lynn xXx
ps. I'm honoured to be a favourite, and to this poem I simply say "bookmarked".
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