Theresa Donnelly: Patron Saint of Lunatics

Patron Saint of Lunatics

He remembers a time when moonlight

adorned her silken flesh; her lustrous

hair spun webs around him.

She was an infusion of delicate flowers.

An elixir for his lips alone. Intoxicating.

By day, she wandered the cloistered garden

gathering foxglove and forget-me-nots.

By night, she mixed potions to help erase

the deep-seated fear, they both shared.

When the witch rediscovered her whereabouts,

she jealously turned her heart to stone.

Leaving him with an insatiable thirst.

His tune turned to the ranting of a madman.

Years liquefy, seep beneath

the cobblestone footpath

which once led to their fairytale tower.

He clutches a rope of Rapunzel’s hair;

yearns for its scent of poetry in rain.

Moans into an empty glass,

when he finds truth at the bottom of it.

*

Biography

Theresa Donnelly is an Irish/Canadian poet who spends her time between Waterville, Co. Kerry and Brooklin, Ontario. Her poetry has been published in the Brooklin Town Crier, Surfacing Magazine, The Copperfield Review, Beret Days Press and Red Claw Press. She is the author of two poetry books ‘Moon Witch and Other Scary Poems (juvenile) and Recurrence of Blue. She is a member of The Ontario Poetry Society and a founding member of The Brooklin Poetry Society.
For more information visit www.theresadonnelly.com

2 Comments

  1. Good morning Theresa, Thank you for this. Unfolds quite nicely but with such thorns. An uncomfortable trip down into the mind. Not a pretty world. Though he has found truth, ,how long will one stare into the bottom of it? I guess one must go on in the end….Cheers… Patrick

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  2. I love your take on the classic tale. We know in reality ‘happily ever afters’ are few and far between. Can’t wait to read more!

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