This was written for my 12th grade English class. We were supposed to write a ballad. The first few stanzas are kind of weak, but I think the rest are pretty good.
Hero and Leander
In a temple by the sea
Was a maiden pale,
A priestess of the goddess Love,
Whose life became this tale.
Her eyes had chance to fall upon
A man both young and fair.
The glance betrayed her heart to love,
A love that he did share.
But misfortune followed them e'er
As lover's tales are wont;
Their lives were sep'rated by a river,
The treacherous Hellespont.
His love for her became too strong
To bear the obstacle,
And thus he dared to cross the strait
And perform the miracle.
Guided by the candle light
Flick'ring in her bower,
He found his way and came to her
Climbing her high tower.
And thus they met for many a night,
Following the same pattern:
The maiden watching by the light,
Her lover swimming to her.
Alas, one night a storm rose up;
The wind was shrill and loud.
It tore the waters, riled the air
And blew the candle out.
Without the maiden's light to guide him
The man soon lost his way.
The water flooded o'er his head
And snatched his life away.
The woman spent a lonely night
Waiting for her love,
Fearing for his life with each
Thunder-clap above.
The morning broke bright and calm,
Belying last night's deed.
A body lay upon the bank
Tangled in the reeds.
When she found her lover's body there
She called herself to blame.
Her love had died for her sake
So she would do the same.
From the highest cliff she leapt;
Down and down she fell.
The river that had killed her love
Now took her life as well.
(1998)