The Sorcerer and the Maid

A sorcerer who loved a maid
To prove his worth and care
Set forth to conjure magic feats
From ocean, land, and air

So first he climbed a shoreside hill
To stand with staff aloft
And sought with might to cease the tide
But found his cause was lost

He next essayed to grasp a star
To coax it down below
As bauble bright, to please his love
To make her passion grow

But failing that, he then did try
To stir the mountains grand
Yet they unmoved, stood firm and tall
Despite his powered hand

He then attempted to bring life
To arid desert soil
But what came forth soon died away
And naught reaped for his toil

In fury, then, he smote the earth
Commanding all the beasts
To come before and pay him heed
The greatest to the least

And yet no creature ventured forth
Though summoned by the score
The unicorns had long since gone
No dragons as in yore

Defeated so, he then returned
Unto her tower high
His head hung low in bitter shame
Twas surely time to die

Confessing failure to the maid
He turned to take his leave
But she reached forth to stay him there
With hand upon his sleeve

She smiled and spoke with gentle voice
Of magic real and true
For love was stronger than by far
Such feats as he could do

No spell could ever hope to match
Love’s great enchanting power
So mage and maid dwelt evermore
In love within the tower

Dale Phillips has poetry published in Ghostlight, Poetry Quarterly, Haiku Journal, and Every Day Poets. He also has published more than 20 short stories in such places as Space & Time, Aoife’s Kiss, Sorcerous Signals, Kasma, New Myths, Dark Valentine, and the anthology Fungi (alongside works by Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft). His first novel, A Memory of Grief, is now available, and the sequel, A Fall From Grace, is due out this November.

He has appeared on stage, television, and in an independent feature film, Throg. He has competed on two quiz shows: Jeopardy and Think Twice. He co-wrote and acted in The Nine, a short political satire film available at www.Libertynewstv.com. He has traveled to all 50 states, Mexico, Canada, and throughout Europe. www.daletphillips.com