There was a little, charming girl
Playing and hopping in the prairies
Her dreams, in her fantasy, whirl
When I met her in those verdant prairies
****
Hail, said I, to the fine maid
Trying but to unfold her world
Yet, she, my soul, unhappy made
When she uttered her first word
****
Here I came to resort alone
She, groaningly, started to speak
Her misery, in her eyes, shone
And she seemed so pale and weak
****
My life there, with the mob, I hate
For nobody can ken my need
My strong will seems to abate
And my heart does woefully bleed
****
But what made thy spirit in grief
And let you wander here alone
I soothingly asked trying to relieve
Her sorrow in a whimpering tone
****
Her reddish cheeks told she was coy
My dreams, said she, are to be torn
I’m bereft from my idol boy
For whom I was naturally born
****
And thus I left to this distant place
Where I can unpack my filled heart
I oft, my dear flowers, embrace
To soothe my soul that’s deeply hurt
****
I lonely ramble in these meadows
Chasing birds from croft to croft
Rejoicing the beauty that my nature bestows
And my dreams travel farther aloft
****
But Oh! My idol is there forsaken
Yet I’m here enjoying this solitude
And as you see my life, I’m making
For my will I strongly stood
****
Thus that fair maiden spoke
When I suddenly crossed her way
Her gentle words, my heart, broke
And no more words could I say
****
I couldn’t strangle a stormy sigh
And my tears, couldn’t hold back
Oh! How could that fair girl cry?
And her tears did, my feelings, crack.
Photo by Kaoutar Rouas
Lassaad Mahdhi is a Tunisian teacher of English who graduated from the University of Carthage, ISLT Bourguiba School in 2006, and got his MA in English literature and cross cultural studies in 2008.