Love Conquers All Poem by Natasha Dowdy

I want to tell a story of a love so true,

This happened to a dear friend I once knew.



He came into her life a prince from a distant land,

Swept her off her feet the moment he kissed her hand.

She said, "I am no princess, I can not compare to them."

He told her he didn't care that did not matter to him.

Her beauty was far beyond that of any princess he had ever known.

Marriage is what the prince wanted but his father would not condone.

"Not a commoner for my son, this girl will not do."

The king protested "A princess is the only girl for you."

"Then I am no son of yours, I will not rule your land! "

"If you want me to be king I have only one demand."

"I'm sorry, " was the kings reply. "A commoner you too will be.

You shall have your wife but never return to me."



The fallen prince took his beauty into his arms

Vowing to forever protect her from harm.

Happily they lived for years to come,

Until the day she bore her prince a son.

As she held the baby in her arms her life was slipping away.

A tear fell onto his head and she whispered "You'll be king someday."



The word had spread far and wide that the king had fallen ill,

And an heir had not been named in his final will.

Boys and men, priests and thieves came from everywhere,

Hoping for the honor to have the kings chair.

None were deemed worthy of the enormous task.

And the king spoke "Bring me my son. This is all I ask."

The fallen was standing by the king, a child now at his side,

The king spoke and asked how his great love had died.

"She sacrificed for love, just as I had once done.

She gave up her life for our wonderful son."

"Please tell me why you have asked me here, I'd really like to know.

It's getting late, my child and I must go."

"As by now you know, " the king softly spoke "I am seeking an heir.

And only a strong and noble man will ever have that chair."

"I am asking you, my son, to please come home.

Take your rightful place there upon the throne."

"That I can not do. I have a great cross to bear.

But I will leave my son with you, and he will be your heir."

"For my name and honor, by you, is marred.

I have lost my life's love and my heart is scarred."

"Very well. If that is your wish, he shall be the king.

Upon the hour of my death, in this land his name shall ring."

"That is my wish and I have one more before I depart,

Keep our names and story true in his heart."

"Then I bid you farewell, " the old king said.

Not giving another glance as he lay on deaths bed.



The fallen prince made his journey home,

With nothing left in this world he was truly alone.

He longed for his love in his arms to hold.

And wondered if their story would ever be told.

The prince paused for a rest beneath a great willow

And took a nap on a mossy pillow.

Slowly he drifted into the dream,

Where his love always came to him.

This time she spoke so softly he could barely hear.

"Listen to me carefully, these words are precious my dear."

"Your life is not over, your tasks are not through.

Before we can be together there is one more thing you must do."

"Name it my love, " he said "no task is too great.

And for you a thousand lifetimes I would wait."

"An enormous quandary will soon cross the land,

It will be caused by our sons hand."

"A great ruler, true, he will be,

But it will be with greed and hate, not true love you see."

The prince sighed. "But what is it I can do?

There is nothing. Because I am nothing with out you."

"The old king will never tell him of you and me.

There will be a hole in his heart where our love should be."

"When the old man dies go to our son, " she said.

"You know what you must do. Goodbye my love. Now wake from your bed."



Several years passed before fate claimed the king,

And throughout the land the fallen's sons name did ring.

With the crown on his head, throne under his thigh

He became greedy, and the taxes became too high.

Once again the fallen prince made his way home,

On this dark day his love's words were all that shone.

At the palace he was announced to the new king

"I come to you, my lord, and a gift to you I bring."

"What is it you could give me that I don't already have." He snorted.

Staring at the poor man before him, his face contorted.

"Your filth is not welcome here, and my pity is not yours."

The boy shouted "Now on with it, before I show you to the doors! "

"I bring to you a precious gift, " the fallen stated "one you knew before."

Something greater than riches, and to you, a lore."

"I am your father, son, I bring you my love to end this plight.

Inside you is a hole, and I am the demon you fight."

"Remember back when you came here, you were only a lad.

I gave up everything for you a better life, just like your mother had."



He told the boy the story of fallen grace, and his mothers last days,

Hoping the child would see the errors and change his ways.

The boys face softened as he recalled the memory

And realized the sacrifice and his father's chivalry.

The fallen lay in his bed that night, a peace within his heart.

His last breath was a whisper, "Now my love, we shall never be apart."

The new king granted a change in the land

He ruled now with a filled heart while holding his true loves hand.

My king passed away telling our prince his story

Of how love conquered all in his rise to glory.

　

　 ©Natasha Bolling