Channeling the Muse

On the Jukebox: "My Immortal" by Evanescence
Mood: Amused
Quote: "It's bad to be dewy-eyed around smart people, but you can always secretly despise them." ~ Cold Comfort Farm
Flair: Princess Peach

Where does inspiration come from? Everywhere!

Last night my friend Kim B. came over for hot cocoa and conversation. She asked me about my other writing projects that I haven't allowed her to read (yet.) I summed up my Amiya series for her. I told her that often times I like to start with a familiar structure and build upon it, then I shared some of the things that have inspired my stories. I once read that there are only 10 stories in the world and that all stories are some form of one of those stories. I don't know if I entirely believe that or not, but there sure are a lot of Cinderella stories aren't there?

Shakespeare based Romeo and Juliet off of an older poem called Pyramus and Thisbe. The musical Westside Story is a updated retelling of the same tale. Pushing Daisies is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a modern twist. The Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon is a Christianized retelling of the Roman myth of Cupid and Psyche. Pintosmalto is an Italian version of the story and most of us are most familiar with the French version known as Beauty and the Beast and it's numerous retellings.

The basic theme of this particular tale is: Man sells daughter to mysterious 'beast' who treats her kindly and eventually wins her love. An interloper comes along and ruins the breaking of the curse or causes additional obstacles before the happy resolution. Pretty basic stuff - it's not plagiarizing to start with an archetype and then branch out. There aren't many new ideas out there but there are plenty of ways to adapt and update universal themes. It is interesting to note that the retelling of this particular tale evolved over a thousand years into it's most recent Disney incarnation.

My Amiya series would be classified as YA Fantasy-Romance (ages 12 and up) aka fairy tales. It's a collection of love stories set in a idyllic kingdom filled with intrigue and valor. I chose the poem "The Sailing of the Sword" by William Morris as a starting point for one of the love stories. Another is based on a mix of "Taming of the Shrew" and "King Thrushbeard" (same archetype)and yet another is based on the song "When We Dance" by Sting. I can't help it. I read things, hear things, and see things and immediately it becomes part of my subconscious stream.

The Sailing of the Sword

Across the empty garden-beds,
When the Sword went out to sea.
I scarcely saw my sisters' heads
Bow'd each beside a tree.
I could not see the castle leads,
When the Sword went out to sea.

Alicia wore a scarlet gown,
When the Sword went out to sea.
But Ursula's was russet brown:
For the mist we could not see
The scarlet roofs of the good town,
When the Sword went out to sea.

Green holly in Alicia's hand,
When the Sword went out to sea,
With sere oak-leaves did Ursula stand;
O! yet alas for me!
I did but bear a peel'd white wand,
When the Sword went out to sea.

O, russet brown and scarlet bright,
When the Sword went out to sea,
My sisters wore; I wore but white;
Red, brown, and white, are three;
Three damsels; each had a knight,
When the Sword went out to sea.

Sir Robert shouted loud, and said,
When the Sword went out to sea,
`Alicia, while I see thy head,
What shall I bring for thee?'
`O, my sweet Lord, a ruby red:'
When the Sword went out to sea.

Sir Miles said, while the sails hung down,
When the Sword went out to sea,
`Oh, Ursula! while I see the town,
What shall I bring for thee?'
`Dear knight, bring back a falcon brown:'
When the Sword went out to sea.

But my Roland, no word he said
When the Sword went out to sea;
But only turn'd away his head,---
A quick shriek came from me:
`Come back, dear lord, to your white maid!'---
The Sword went out to sea.

The hot sun bit the garden-beds,
When the Sword came back from sea;
Beneath an apple-tree our heads
Stretch'd out toward the sea;
Grey gleam'd the thirsty castle-leads,
When the Sword came back from sea.

Lord Robert brought a ruby red,
When the Sword came back from sea;
He kiss'd Alicia on the head:
`I am come back to thee;
'Tis time, sweet love, that we were wed,
Now the Sword is back from sea!'

Sir Miles he bore a falcon brown,
When the Sword came back from sea;
His arms went round tall Ursula's gown,---
`What joy, O love, but thee?
Let us be wed in the good town,
Now the Sword is back from sea!'

My heart grew sick, no more afraid,
When the Sword came back from sea;
Upon the deck a tall white maid
Sat on Lord Roland's knee;
His chin was press'd upon her head,
When the Sword came back from sea!

Doesn't that make you wonder what sort of love story I made up for the third sister who narrated this tragic poem? Did Sir Roland love her or not? Was he too afraid to voice his true feelings? Why didn't he ask her what she wanted? Who was that lady with him when he returned? What did the third sister, who I named Bronwyn, think about while the Sword was away? What were the individual personalities of the three sisters and their knights? Where did the Sword sail to? How long was it gone? Were any of the sisters tempted by new suitors?

Did you notice the second and last line of each stanza are the same? It gives the feeling of ocean waves crashing on the shore. The story I wanted to tell also has the feel of the repetitive rhythm - the girls walk every day and watch for the Sword's return. Bronwyn records her thoughts in her journal every day. There are set habits that give the story a feeling of rhythm. Of course there has to be more to the story than William Morris eluded to in his poem and I feel inspired to tell it.