The Legend Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

The Romantic Legend

The lord of the manor near the coast of Algarve,
Behind the manor a forested valley where
Packs of frightful wolves roamed.

A day when his youngest daughter who was a bit
Odd-as she took no interest in suitors- went to
The glade to pick flowers, she met a he wolf.

Not afraid she petted the good animal and his
Eyes she discovered love that asked for nothing
And had nothing to give but love itself.

The daughter when doing needle work had stung
Herself and there was a dropp of blood on her
Index finger, which the wolf lovingly licked away.

A miracle happen the girl turned into a sleek,
Wonderful she wolf with silky black and tan fur.
Their union was complete and love rewarded.

The pair found a cave in the deepest forest
Where they lived happily for many years until
The he wolf was killed by a bigger animal.

The spell was broken and she was now an old
woman, alone and scared, where love´s light
had shone there was fearful darkness.

There was a knock on the manor´s oak door,
An elderly woman claimed she was the daughter
Of the house but, she was not believed.

It was a rainy night and when the door opened
Next morning the servants found a young girl
With glade flowers in her folded dead hands.

What sorrow, what grief, but she wore a smile
That told of everlasting love and acceptance
Of the price she had to pay.

“Vale de lobo” the forest doesn´t exist anymore
But is full of vulgar houses built for sun seekers.
And a paradise of love is lost to commerce.