More of The Wild Swans

Stave 6

When Elisa awoke, they were far from land

And so high in the air she thought she was  dreaming,

Until she found berries and roots in her hand,

Gathered by her youngest brother.

Far below them, a sailing ship floated,

A white gull on the waves.

They flew all day

Ahead of a storm

And, at the approach of evening,

Elisa watched the sun sinking

Into the sea

With still no sign of a place to land.

The storm arrived

With lightning and cloud,

Wind and thunder,

Menacing and loud;

And the sun had reached the rim of the sea.

The eleven swans dived suddenly,

Falling like stones

And, as the sun was halfway

Under the water,

Elisa’s feet touched solid ground

With her brothers in a circle all around

Holding hands,

Protecting her from the sea and storm

Pounding the rock.

Day broke

And the air was calm

But the sea was rough;

As soon as the sun rose

The swans took off

Towards a castle among blue mountains,

With valleys, forests, flowers and fountains.

Long before the sun set,

They arrived at a vine-covered cave,

Where Elisa dreamed

Of how her brothers could be saved.

 

© Kim M. Russell, 2016

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