Bright and hot was the summer's day
There by the river bank.
Bright and hot the sun's light lay
On the girl's slender swan's neck.

Her gold hair burned as bright as the sun
To the nixie's eyes
As he gazed at her from shadow.
Her blue eyes burned as bright as the summer sky
And burned the nixie where he lay
In shadow.

The nixie was as cool and silver as water
In shadow.
He was white and silver as the moon;
A winter's night daring to look a summer's day.

To escape the summer day
To shadow
Was a temptation
The girl dearly wished to dare,
Yet the nixie lay
In shadow.
Would she return to the summer day?
Or would she remain a prisoner to the winter night?

The nixie's smile was soothing,
Luminous as the moon.
The nixie's silver eyes were smiling,
Gleaming as the moon on water.
He spoke not a word, yet said
There is nothing to fear.
The summer day will return from the winter night.
If she wished.

The girl spoke not a word, yet said
I will come
And I will return to the summer day,
But I will return to the winter night
If you wish.

She slid into the water and the nixie's embrace
And enjoyed the cool splendor of the winter night.
On the morrow she returned
To enjoy the fierce glory of the summer day.

And so she went on
From that chance meeting
To revel in the summer days
And
To delight in the winter nights.

poem copyright Vanora Hagen 1996
image copyright Vanora Hagen 1995

The Unicorn's Tribute

Gleaming ivory roses
For a sweet maid who had passed this way
So long ago.
She had given me pleasure,
Intoxicating kisses,
Gentle caresses,>
And a look of love from her obsidian eyes,
Sparkling as midnight water
Under the moon.

It was such a night as this,
A dark sapphire sky dusted with diamond stars,
Under a sickle moon of pearl.
It was at this place,
Under these two ancient blossoming trees,
That she lay with me,
A unicorn.

I leave these flowers for her,
Though a century has passed ---
She will never come this way again ---
But this something I must do,
For I must remember
That her like will never come this way
Again.

poem copyright Vanora Hagen 1996 image copyright Vanora Hagen 1995

character designs | photography | sculpture | fairytale & literature | anime | stuff | sketchbook | sold work

next
gallery
home
| updates | appearances | links | me | resume | rings

Send me email if you have any questions.