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lyrics

BROKEN CRUELTY

It fell upon Midsummer’s Eve
the longest day of light
Fair Janet wakened from her sleep
and banished dreams from sight

She combed her hair, slipped on her gown,
and laced her girdle gay
and she’s away to Festival
to while the hours at play

But then a thought came to her head
instead to Flower’s Field
to gather blooms for father’s grave
he was but one year dead

She picked the red and then the blue
and then the yellow bright
when all at once the mist grew thick
the sky as dark as night

Fair Janet trembled and grew pale
she knelt and wept and wailed
but none could hear her cries for help
she’d wandered far away

Then there appeared a distant gleam
perhaps the others were there
Fair Janet hastened toward that light
as fast her feet could bear

As she approached, the clouding cleared
a fortress wall did rise
she placed her hand on cold rough stone
and found herself inside

There stood the tallest broadest man
or beast, she could not tell
for all the coarse hair covering him
and the rankest animal smell

His eyes were coals that glowed so dark
and smoke came out as breath
these words he spoke so deep and clear
a hollow voice like death

“If you would know the truest love,
then choose you must stay here,
else you will be forever lost
to what you hold so dear.”

Despair and mortal fear aside
she readied to remain
for in her tender heart there burned
a strong and shining flame

It fell upon Midwinter’s Eve
the shortest day of light
Fair Janet serv-ed nigh six months
unknowing of her plight

Into the room, the Beast-Man stormed
his fettered legs set wide
he glared at her with narrow gaze
hands raised as if to strike

Instead, he lowered them to pray
he bowed his head and wept
a silent sobbing genuine
contrite, all rage now left

And then the fur flew off the Beast
pale skin beneath revealed
her eyes grew wide, familiar form
t’was her own father dear!

And up and spoke this comely man
in a voice so soft and sweet
“Now I may leave this hellish place
set free to heaven’s retreat

For long in life I was so cruel
withholding love and care
a prison made all by myself
no other blame to bear

But by your humble sacrifice,
unquestioned love and faith
you’ve shattered shackles, iron bars
that bound me to this earth”

His voice grew faint as did his form
an echo and a ghost
the walls dissolved, the moonlight beamed
so bright on brand new snow

Fair Janet did not feel the cold
nor did the night she fear
surrounded by the warmth of love
to home, the path now clear

credits

from Crooked Tree and Other Songs of Worldly Woe and Unearthly Love, released April 6, 2021

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Susan Kotler Baywood Los Osos, California

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