Merry Sisters of Fate Watcher Prompt Contest or Touching Up My Poet's Roots

The Merry Sisters of Fate (Brenna Yovanoff, Maggie Stiefvater, and Tessa Gratton) are hosting a prompt contest on their blog. One winner will receive these fabulous prizes: a signed ARC of "Scorpio Races" by Maggie, a signed ARC of "The Space Between" by Brenna, and a signed hardback of the recently released "Blood Magic" by Tessa.

The picture, "Meeting on The Turret Stairs” by Frederic Burton, was too perfect not to write for.

This poem is a pantoum, a poetic form based on the oral telling of 15th century Malayan literature.

“Sin”

My heart is consumed by Hellfire.

Loving you brings a thousand deaths to my soul.

Save me, my God, from this wild desire,

An unquenched passion that shall not be consoled

Loving you brings a thousand deaths to my soul.

We married in haste, those we did not love

An unquenched passion that shall not be consoled;

Dreaming of you is but a curse from above.

We married in haste those we did not love,

Though it saved you from courtly scorn.

Dreaming of you is but a curse from above

And I mourn, oh the loss of you that I mourn.

Though it saved you from courtly scorn,

I have no choice now but to become a thief.

And I mourn, oh the loss of you that I mourn.Stealing a glance or smile disguised is a moment’s relief.

I have no choice now but to become a thief,

To hold you against me on darkened stairs.

Stealing a glance or smile disguised is a moment’s relief,

Your reluctance to leave, renews my despair.

To hold you against me on darkened stairs,

A touch not deep enough to sustain me.

Your reluctance to leave, renews my despair.

This is not how I wish us to be.

 

A touch not deep enough to sustain me.

Save me, my God, from this wild desire;

This is not how I wish us to be.
My heart is consumed by Hellfire.