The Madness They Called Love

They were a beautiful couple, a sight for sore eyes

They could make heads turn, melt hearts cold as ice

Each lived for the other, they were simply inseparable

One day hand in hand they walked into the garden of our fable

Beautiful were the trees, their branches swaying as if they had wings

They looked like the stately knights of olden times, bowing their heads before their King

The enchanting couple trod into this fairyland, enamoured by the beauty floating around

They trod softly on the earth leaving their faint imprints on the fragrant ground

Suddenly they were woken from their reverie when the stillness was broken by a guttural voice

And then they saw seated on a bench, an ugly goblin, who was the source of all this noise

"Close your eyes, inhale the enchanting scent of chestnuts,

And sense the colorful leaves descending gracefully, as if bowing before royalty.

Wind is whispering a fairytale, what do you hear?" asked the goblin of the couple

The couple closed their eyes and immediately were transported into another time

An era which had passed by leaving its imprints on the sands of time

They saw in their mind's eye, a beautiful damsel, her beauty ethereal and oh so pristine

She lived in that very forest with her grandmother; to the old lady she meant everything

Just a stone's throw away lived a farmer's family, whose pockets were empty but hearts filled with joy

And none was happier than their young lad whose fun filled laughter could make even stones smile

The boy and our damsel were in love they would seek each other's company whenever they were free

They made such a wonderful couple, both their families were eager that together they should always be

But fate always comes up with the unexpected and it came in the form of the evil king of that land

He chanced to visit that forest with his nobles and servants on a royal hunt

The scared animals ran hither and thither, searching for any cover that they could find

Misfortune fell on the hapless ones, who were luckless and left behind

Tired after the carnage, the cruel team decided to take rest in a shady glade

And it was then that our pretty young lady unaware of it all, happened to pick berries from the shade

The evil king saw the peerless beauty, he soon felt into a daze

Never had his eyes seen anything as beautiful which had left it misty as if in a haze

He had the girl carried to the castle, he would marry her at the first opportune moment

He sent a lot of gifts to her people, after all her girl was going to be royalty

He met the girl in the morrow, trying to be at his charming best

Imagine his chagrin when at his first sight the girl burst into tears

I love another your majesty, I have given my heart to his charms

So what, you impudent girl, fate beckons you with open arms

You will marry me and no one else, get this embedded in your heart

It is for the good of everyone, any other thoughts you quickly part

The King called for the farmer's boy, his humble sight broke him into a rage

Thereafter he got the innocent lad beheaded, only then could he think straight

When the news reached the girl, there was no show of sorrow or remorse

The poor girl just fell on the ground, bereft of life, her soul following her lover's

Having seen the whole tale enacted, the couple opened their eyes

They saw the goblin staring at them, a trance like expression on his face

The couple waited with baited breath wanting to know what happened to the king

Did destiny teach him a lesson or was the whole incident just another thing

As if reading their minds, the goblin spoke almost on cue

The king was a changed man after the death of the loving couple

He took the shape of a goblin and became a preacher of true love

Love he said was a gift from the heavens; it could never be forced upon, only earned

It is not corrupted by power, nor touched by worldly gains, never knows rhyme nor reason

Only a select few find it in their lives, like a diamond rare, it shines like a beacon

And how do you know all this O goblin, how are you so familiar with this story

And who is the goblin dear, the aging king said, with a tinge of melancholy in his eyes

............The End.............