To A Lucent Lady Poem by Colin Breck Boardman

To a lucent lady
Quite by chance
I held out a courtly lover's arm
To offer the services
Of my swiftest falcon
And my trusty lance,
And much to my surprise,
Though it was quite shady,
She blushed,
Sprouted butterfly wings
And fluttered her eyes
To tell me her name,
Smiling back with such delightful charm
That dragons would be smitten,
As indeed I had been bitten
By Cupid's subtle sting.

She presented me a little token
Of her esteem
With sweet kisses,
But before more words were spoken
Transforming she departed,
Returning to her natural state,
By silence hushed,
And I was back where I had started,
Taking comfort from Fortune's lashes,
In spinning daydreams,
On the lonely path I walk on
Or sometimes saunter.

So now within her precious amulet,
All in white and silver set,
I keep the vital ashes
Of our sweet encounter
In due honour of her sorry fate,
Burnt by the slow burn
Of an inexhaustable flame,
Wishing her a safe return.

(CBB Sept 2011)