Aida was an Ethiopian princess who was taken prisoner by Egyptian soldiers. Struck by her beauty and sophistication, she was made the handmaiden to Princess Amneris of Egypt. No one knew that Aida was a royal. Radames was an Egyptian soldier who fell in love with Aida. He was brave and later led the Egyptian forces and defeated the Ethiopians. Aida's father, King Amnaros was taken prisoner but he warned Aida not to betray his identity. Princess Amneris found out the truth, and out of jealousy, accused Radames of treason. Radames had loved Aida. He told Amneris he had no place in his heart for her. He willingly accepted death. But Aida had been true in her love for Radames too, although she was torn between her duty towards her motherland Ethiopia and her faithful love towards Radames. She knew that her life meant nothing without Radames. And so without anyone's knowledge, she hid herself in the same vault Radames was sent to.
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I do not know whether the story is true or fictional. Some call it fictional and some have based it in history. Aida is said to have been the subject of Giuseppe Verdi's opera with the same name which supposedly was written on the behest of Ismail Pasha, Egypt's khedive. Aida has been performed as a musical on Broadway too, with music by Elton John.
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The story sparked my imagination. The poem I have written below is the conversation of the two lovers in their final moment.
The lone dark chamber of death
Solitary and cold
Radames descends -
Descends not in love
But with valor
Hoping for her to live.....
Aida the most beautiful
Aida - his beloved
Aida - the slave of royal blood....
He from Egypt,
She from Ethiopia,
Boundaries imposed on love...
Treacherous he is not
Traitor not to his country
but barriers illogical can be broken not......
Amneris, the Egyptian princess
Ah the jealous one!
Cares for herself.....
Possessed by passion
Consumed by rage
Turns him in....
She hopes he will surrender
But surrender is not love
She fails, she curses....
Too late now
She has to face the music
Of her own misdeed....
Radames descends
Leaving her alone
unforgotten in history and the one unloved.......
**********
The quiet chamber
seems alive to him
She is so much in her thoughts.
He wishes for her life
Although without him...
A life full of love
A lover true to his beloved....
Come my Love
I leave you not alone...
Startled he sees her there
No, not an illusion
It is really me
This is the chamber not of death
But of our love
Our Final Embrace.
He tries to protest
She should live.
Live for whom?
For a world without love?
For a life without attachment?
For life without that
Is just a living death.....
Abandon me not
Radames
Far from the madding crowd
Let this last moment
Of our final embrace
Give us a lifetime of love
Let love rule our death
So when the vault is unearthed
By curious posterity
We will be remembered as the ones united -
Inseparable, tenacious lovers
The Victorious Ones in Death...
Speculate they will
On our fate
Let them....
No famous last words from us....
Just the final embrace...!
*********
Enfolded
Enwrapped
In the chamber of chastisement
Love lies undisturbed....!
Linking to B-A-R Wordy Wednesday
Can you republish it with Indian names? Got confused in Aida and Radames, Amneris and Amnerose. But, don't use something like Gurmeet loved Gurpreet.....
ReplyDeleteLoved ur poetry. Ideal opera lyrics....No, not an illusion.....Enfolded, enwrapped....love lies undisturbed. Simply wow!
Hahaha......it is not that difficult Mr. Gandhi....:)....thanks for the appreciation and the candid response...!
DeleteBeautifully expressed n love ur blog name
ReplyDeleteAffordable Lace Gown
Thanks Ananya...!
DeleteAmazingly beautiful! Loved it!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sir!
DeleteMesmerizing Sunaina! Loved the story and the poetry depicting love that transcends boundaries, hierarchies and wars. ..and the language is simply superb!
ReplyDeleteThanks Somali.
DeleteMesmerizing Sunaina! Loved the story and the poetry depicting love that transcends boundaries, hierarchies and wars. ..and the language is simply superb!
ReplyDeleteLoved transcends beyond boundaries, race, and even death. Beautiful poem and thanks for sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Saru...
DeleteThere's so much drama in your poem that it mesmerises. Love is a dangerous thing: whether for the country or for another person. It has to be balanced with reason, I think. Antony of Rome too failed with Cleopatra of Egypt just because they didn't know that balancing.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is superb.
I am so glad of this kind remark from you Sir. You bring out the right connection....Antony and Cleopatra....!
DeleteLove triumphing in a way over those who sought to nip it in the bud. :) I loved the topic, and wonder if it is true too. Very well written. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Vinay...:)
DeleteDie not together, but live
ReplyDeletealone, and in joy abound,
for having the chance to give
love back, to every unloved wound,
that plague this world so.
So sweet....wish it was true for some fated love-stories...
DeleteI loved your poem and wondered whether it is true or a fiction... You've expressed well the last moment of togetherness... :)All the best for the contest.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you liked it Arpita...!
DeleteSunaina, you had me hooked to the poem as the verses tumbled over each other so fluidly. Incredible job. I love how you've used the three prompts. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, welcome welcome....I am so honored to have you here.....And so happy that you liked my attempt. Thank you so much Shailaja, for the wonderful prompts and for the appreciation...:)
DeleteWow! that poem flows so naturally and it seems you were at ease while penning this. Great job Sunaina. Nice to meet you! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Parul...:)
DeleteI am left breathless by this beautiful poetry, Sunaina!You have written it so effortlessly, using the prompts perfectly! It was great visiting your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such an honor....Thank you so much for the kind words...:)
DeleteI am left breathless by this beautiful poetry, Sunaina!You have written it so effortlessly, using the prompts perfectly! It was great visiting your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteLovely poem, so well written with that narrative feeling and so much emotion, too.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading the background on it, too. I am familiar with Verdi's March from Aida, having played it in Band before. Now I understand its origins much better.
You actually have been part of the performance....the music...that's great....Glad you liked the poem....:)
DeleteWow Suniana, great story and a beautifully expressed poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ramya.....:)
Delete