The Wintered Queen

Into the crystal screen, The Wintered Queen
with heart encased in ice, gazes:
begins to dance throughout the changing scene
while rain, rooftops and pavements glazes

Glides over a bridge above the Tyne
with a familiar stranger
mirror upon mirror intertwined
King into Queen, St Nicholas to Grainger

A mirage or a vision, carousel 
appears before them – hovers
with fairytale cast, and, as by some spell
enchanted, they fall, soon to become lovers:

Their hearts, their art: two arcs across the sky
inscribed within this book of poetry. 

Tonight, I am hosting dVerse Poetics, where I ask for poetry inspired by dreams or visions. This poem describes a dream which became a vision, which eventually became a book. The book in question is Archery In The UK, due for release 1 February 2023. It is a collaboration between me and Nick Reeves: a collection of ballads, sonnets, cadralore and other poetic forms. It is a reimagining of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads. And above all, it is that most old-fashioned and timeless of things: a love story…

72 thoughts on “The Wintered Queen”

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  6. Firstly, congratulations on your collaboration, Ingrid; I look forward to holding it in my eager little paws. I love the idea of a collection of ballads, sonnets, cadralore and other poetic forms, especially a reimagining of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads, and a love story.
    Secondly, wow! I love your wintered queen and her ‘heart encased in ice’. You painted the scene so enchantingly in the lines:
    ‘… rain, rooftops and pavements glazes
    Glides over a bridge above the Tyne’
    and
    I fell in love with the lines:
    ‘Their hearts, their art: two arcs across the sky
    inscribed within this book of poetry.’

    Reply

  7. This is absolutely fantastic! Many many hearty congratulations on your collaboration, Ingrid! What a comeback! 😍😍

    Reply

  12. Awesomely crafted, Ingrid. Definitely a read-aloud, IMO. Congrats on the book; I’m looking forward. And thanks for hosting this cool prompt.

    Reply

  15. Where to start? This is marvelous, and marvelous news as well! The styles of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Tennyson and Housman are sadly neglected today. there is much to be said for the sheer beauty of words. I am so delighted to hear about this book of yours and shall try to obtain it as soon as it’s available. Will it be on Amazon or some other place I can go? Continuing on, I love the play on the Sex Pistols “Anarchy In the UK” in your title. Archery indeed! Your poem is lovely, Ingrid. here’s wishing you every success!

    –Shay

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    1. Thank you so much Shay! The book will be available on Amazon 😊 I can’t take credit for the title – that was Nick’s work, but it sums up the collection perfectly!

      Reply

  19. I love the fairytale-like, magical connection between them. And the connection between the characters being preserved in some sort of literary work, possibly this very poem is a great twist, so meta! Lovely and creative.

    I love the VU and I’ve never heard this song before so thanks for that, you made my day! ~Jay

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  22. The lyricism conjures up the best of the Romantics, Ingrid, and is a soulful rendering of the exquisite vision that is love. All the best with your forthcoming book!

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  24. Wonderful poem. There are some symbols I can’t wrap my head around, but I guess that’s expected since it’s a dream. Cupid’s carousel made for an interesting ending. It’s wonderful how you could interpret and make use of your dream as inspiration.

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  25. The Tyne looks pretty in pictures, is does it really introduce magic romantic trances, leading to relationships? We’ve not been that far on England’s east side, Scotland, North Wales, and Ireland, yes. I’m one fourth Manx, been to Isle of Man.
    Best wishes on your upcoming.
    Thanks for hosting dVerse Poetics this round,
    ..

    Reply

  31. Wow, this post is truly captivating! Your imagery of the “Wintered Queen” with her heart encased in ice, dancing through a changing scene, is so powerful and evocative. The metaphor of the “mirror upon mirror intertwined” as two people become one is beautiful. And the way you weave in the idea of the poem becoming a book, a love story and a collaboration with Nick Reeves, makes it even more interesting. Your poetry inspired by dreams and visions is truly impressive and I’m looking forward to reading your book “Archery in the UK” it sounds like it will be a timeless and beautiful collection. It’s amazing to see how a dream can lead to a vision, and then to a beautiful piece of literature. Thank you for sharing this with us!

    Reply

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