Kemp Owyne Poem by Gert Strydom

Kemp Owyne



As a small child her mother died
that sorrowed her in her heart,
when her father married again
a wicked cruel lady

and almost like a slave
she beckoned to the woman’s call
and did every task
big or small, she did them all

until one moonless night
the women send her father to bed,
and in darkness without any light
said strange things casting a spell

and carried little Isabel
to a cliff above the sea
and in glee cursed her sorrowfully
until Kemp Owyne
who lived in a far of city
come to the rescue
and with three kisses set her free
and into the waters she threw the child
laughing wickedly

and covered Isabel was
in scales from tail to fin
and tales of a hideous beast
with long hair, breathing strong
was told by the people that came across her,
even to those across the sea
and to her it was a great calamity

and immediately Kemp Owyne
sailed with his great boat,
from the far off city
to see for himself
and she begged him for a kiss
and still hideous was she
and a magic belt fit for a king
would be his
that would protect against any enemy
but warned him to only kiss
and not to touch,
the rest of her body
or the belt would bring him death
would cause his last breath

and gallant Kemp Owyne
gave her a kiss
and the belt was his

and she begged him for a kiss
and still hideous was she
and a ring fit for king
she offered him
that would protect against any enemy
but warned him to only kiss
and not to touch,
the rest of her body
or the ring would become a deadly thing

and gallant Kemp Owyne
gave her a kiss
and the ring was his

and she begged him for a kiss
and still hideous was she
and a mighty sword fit for king
she offered him
that would protect against any enemy
but warned him to only kiss
and not to touch,
the rest of her body
or an enemy sword would pierce him

and gallant Kemp Owyne
gave her a kiss
and it was sweet bliss,
full of passion was he
and the sword was his

and transformed was she
with hair short,
more beautiful than any queen
and she was free,
walked on to the beach
right out of the sea
and gallant Kemp Owyne
begged her to accompany him.


[Reference: Kemp Owyne by unknown poet.]

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Gert Strydom

Gert Strydom

Johannesburg, South Africa
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