The Princess And The Peasant - A Poem About True Love

I wrote this poem quite a few years ago (I won't say how long ago) when I was young and obsessed with fairytales, and love stories such as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Alfred Lord Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott, and the tale of Guinevere and Lancelot. This poem was inspired by the nature of love and how at times, the course of true love is tragic, but beautiful.

T’was a perfect autumn morning,

When he saw her standing there.

T’was a perfect autumn morning,

When he stroked her golden hair.

She was Princess of the Kingdom,

Daughter to the King.

She was Princess of the Kingdom,

And a precious gem to him.

The peasant, he was handsome,

Though unwanted by the town.

The peasant he was handsome,

But called ‘The Village Clown’.

T’was love at first sight when they touched,

On that glorious Autumn day.

T’was love at first sight when they touched,

And he took her breath away.

This way, they met, for months on end,

Through Winter and through Spring.

This way, they met, for months on end,

And songs to her he’d sing.

Then one day without warning,

The King discovered them.

Then one day without warning,

He cast the peasant in the dungeon.

“You must marry a Prince!” He roared.

She fell at his feet and sobbed.

“You must marry a Prince!” He roared.

Her helpless heart had been robbed.

“But Father” she cried, “I don’t love a prince!”

She felt the depths of despair.

“But Father” she cried, “I don’t love a prince!”

He sighed and stroked her hair.

That night, she had decided,

To creep out of her room.

That night she had decided,

To visit her mother’s tomb.

She knelt down by the tombstone

And told her mother all.

She knelt down by the tombstone

And the wind began to call.

There, beneath the moonlight,

The wind whispered in her ear,

There, beneath the moonlight,

It took away her fear.

The wind spoke softly to her,

“Go, take him out of there.”

The wind spoke softly to her,

“The King, he was not fair.”

So when the guard was sleeping,

She silently stole the key,

And when the guard was sleeping,

She set her lover free.

Their shadows moved under the moonlight

As they crossed the forest floor

Their shadows moved under the moonlight

‘Till she could run no more.

He drew her close and kissed her.

Their love was ever so strong.

He drew her close and kissed her.

Now nothing could go wrong.

Alas! The guards came riding in

And tore the two apart.

Alas! The guards came riding in

And broke the lovers hearts.

They dragged him to the willow tree,

His face white with despair,

They dragged him to the willow tree.

Death was in the air.

He cried out, “My true love,

My soul shall stay with thee!”

He cried out, “My true love…”

And they hung him from that tree.

She fell upon the ground and wept,

Heavy and hurt with grief

She fell upon the ground and wept.

Her heart; a crumpled leaf.

And then with a shattered soul,

She moved towards the lake.

And then with a shattered soul,

Her voice began to shake:

“My love has been killed by those beasts

who faithfully serve the King.”

“My love has been killed by those beasts!

Darkness alone, it brings.”

T’was without a word, she died,

And in the lake she lay,

T’was without a word she died,

And was silently swept away....

There, by the lake where the willows weep

And the moon is shining bright,

You can hear their voices echo

Through the still and silent night.

You can hear him crying out for her,

Searching for her presence.

Yet their love will remain forever,

The Princess and The Peasant.