Castle Walls ~ A Senryū Story

This senryū story originated with Scarlett Greyson (@ScarlettGreyson), a wonderful writer of hot things, who wrote a lovely senryū on Twitter – the start of the story, though nobody knew it. I responded, fairly off the cuff, but almost immediately a back and forth developed and a little epic began to write itself as we went. As Scarlett notes, we had no other communication it regards to it other than to compliment each other’s work, so the plot emerged spontaneously.  I am cross-posting the story here, but it looks even better on Scarlett’s Blog. The red stanzas are hers, the grey, mine. –M

Castle Walls

Dark thoughts tunneling
sappers at the walls, breaching
will she surrender?

Undermining her
seducing her from within
his words bear sweet fruit

A Trojan’s deceit
Welcomed, enveloped in her
beware bitter seeds.

The entry, conquest,
all is lost in the moment
heedless of the future.

In prudence she bows
Yielding is not surrender
Victory is hers.

Captured conqueror
In taking, he is taken
but does not feel loss

Ripe fruit devoured
bitter seed planted within
a careful attack

Something twisted, wrong.
New victories feel empty.
Something left behind?

Cold and windy spire.
Castellated widow’s walk
Hero ne’er returns?

Ragged, tested, spent
where did it all go so wrong?
Retracing his steps.

A kingdom awaits
sapped from within by his words
stronger than his steel

Familiar walls loom
breached, but impervious, now,
to compromised hearts?

Ice clad heart, warm flesh
Conquered, cast aside, locked out
Find the long lost key.

Two lessons hard learned:
Words – as swords – have two edges;
Forgotten seeds grow.

Thin, reedy, it’d bloom
for want of warmth and tending
Life beyond battle.

Broken sees broken.
Wanting sees wanting; wonders.
Despite… A way through?

Winter breaking, sun
seeking; finding her dreams,
once only moon-clad.

Iron and deceit
the old, too familiar tools;
he tries to reach past.

Rain chased, worn smooth path
Veined – Vined?- life coursing within
All leads to the heart.

Forging a new way
stepping through green, thorn heedless
strange territory.

A tainted dowry
Impure; Suitors disregard.
The seed planted grows.

Barrier of wounds
grown germs of his own sowing
arise with vengeance.

Veiled with life’s earned scars
Tender of bodies broken,
One familiar face?

The source, seed, and root
can demons born here be slain?
Choice now in her hands

Healer’s touch, binding
Drawn blood staining him; rampant
Her essence cleansing.

Buried truths burn free
as eyes and heart open clear
barbs, armor cast off

Anemones bloom
Lost is lost yet found and claimed
The seeds they will tend.

~fin~