“The legend of the almond blossoms”
“The legend of the almond blossoms”
A poem based on the legend “lenda das amendoeiras”
Long ago and far away
In a kingdom to the west
Lived a handsome Moorish king
Who endeavoured to do his best.
He ruled a province strange to him
Though this he did not choose
To rule the land of the Al-garve
In the west of Al-Andaluz.
He was a fair and wise ruler
Ensuring his land was free of strife
The only thing missing said the courtiers
Was the presence of a wife.
And so it came to pass
That through romance and finesse
Our wise and noble king
Married a Nordic Princess.
Her beauty was incomparable
The stuff of legends, we’re told
Her eyes the blue of the Summer sky
Her hair the colour of pure gold.
They were married in the Spring
Nobility came from far and wide
Bringing luxurious gifts for the king
And gasping at the loveliness of his bride.
Feasting went on for many days
Full of merriment and laughter
The royal couple’s love was evident
They would be happy ever after.
But something wasn’t quite right
With this blissfully loving scene
The gods ever jealous of humans
Sent Fate to intervene.
Within months the queen got sick
Nobody could tell the king why
She was pale and wan and sad
And all she could do was cry.
The king sent for the best doctors
Someone somewhere must surely know
Till a wise tribesman told the king,
“what her majesty needs Is snow”.
“Her wistfulness is very deep
And snow is the reason why
If her melancholy doesn’t change
Then she surely will die“.
“But what can I do old man?
For sooth it doesn’t snow here”.
“Then snow you’ll have to make
And I know just how, don’t fear”.
“What you must do my liege
Is plant many an almond tree
When they blossom in the Spring
This the queen must see.
The king ordered almond tree s planted
As far as the eye could see
Sceptical through the monarch was
He determined to wait and see.
Spring came and sure enough
The queen regained her healthy glow
For the fields surrounding the castle
Were completely covered in snow.
“How you did this Lord, I know not
But our happiness is assured”.
She said to her doting, happy husband
And he noted that she was cured .
From then on the almond was the Algarve’s main fruit
Their white blossoms carpet the fields every Spring
And sometimes if you listen carefully
You can still hear the Nordic Princess sing.
The End
In : Tempos Que Ja La Vao
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