The Lady of the Rivers

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From the depths of the dark cold waters she comes

She rises and hides under the dark veil of night.

Her bare pale body occult, away from human sight.

For it hides lust and mystery all together in one.

Her sin and bless were the same, and it was a man.

For him she left her world behind to grant his wish.

A high price she had to pay for his desire, he was vain,

It was harder on her, a woman half human half fish.

Stepping on a man’s world not only hurt her feet,

She learned from the beginning that she was no longer free.

He was her master and she gladly accepted her fate;

Blinded by love, she refused to undo what she had made.

He loved her dearly, but he knew she kept a secret from him.

She was a mystery, but she couldn’t help it, she couldn’t tell.

Men cannot bear women like her, and on a whim

He uncovered her secret, betrayed her trust and released her spell.

Poor lady!, such a deep disappointment!

He left her with his sons, and she took her daughters away.

Lived the whole eternity without a leap of resentment,

Yet missing him more than words could ever say.

And when he was about to be gone from this life.

It was her voice that he heard last, her song, her lament.

He regretted to have abandoned the one he took as his wife,

Though she had forgiven him long ago in her imprisonment.

Her sons grew to be great, constant, loyal to their duty.

First on the rule of the magical land of Burgundy.

As for her daughters, they knew the unknown by men.

They inherited their mother’s secrets, all of them.

Her daughters foresee, and they hear her ethereal voice

The rivers speak to them, revealing the entire future wheel

Both a bless and a curse, but such a high price for the choice

Of one maid that put above her nature her own will.

This is the tale of Melusina, the water goddess.

A tale of love and penitence, of renounce and pride.

In a world ruled by men, she proved herself fearless,

Under the dark waters, in the depths of the rivers she still hides.

*Inspired in the legend of the water goddess Melusina, and the belief she was the founder of the House of Burgundy/Louxembourg. 

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