Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LEGEND OF ESPIRITU SANTO, by ISLEA SHRIVER ELLIS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LEGEND OF ESPIRITU SANTO, by                    
First Line: Many years ago the spaniard came from far across the ocean
Last Line: Sing a song of joy and gladness in the sunshine of the southland.
Subject(s): De Soto, Hernando (1500-1542); Legends, Native American; Youth


Many years ago the Spaniard came from far across the ocean,
Came in search of gold and treasure to the land he had discovered.
And he sought the precious fountain, fountain of the living waters, --
Waters of the Youth Eternal.
Where the hoary, moss-hung oak trees waved their branches over the fountain,
Came the Spaniard on his journey. Came to where Chief Hirrihigua
Built his wigwam near the fountain.
But the Chieftan, Hirrihigua, in revengefulness and anger
For atrocities committed by the ruthless de Narvaez,
Slew the white men when they landed; slew them in his righteous anger.
All but one -- the youth, Juan Ortiz, who escaped the Chieftain's torture,
Through the pleading of the Princess, daughter of Chief Hirrihigua.
For the tender-hearted Princess pleaded for the Spanish captive,
And the Chieftan loved his daughter, so released to her the prisoner.
By the fountain of the waters, waters of the Youth Eternal,
There the Princess nursed the Spaniard till she knew he had recovered.
Then she sent him with a message to her lover, Chief Mucosa.
Chief Mucosa loved the Princess, his betrothed, his bride intended,
And for love's sake took the captive from the village of her father,
Kept him safe from threat of torture from the great Chief, Hirrihigua.
So the years passed, and the Spaniard, longing for his old companions,
Still lived on with Chief Mucosa. But the Big Chief, Hirrihigua,
Still denied the Chief his daughter; still denied him of his bride.
For his anger against the white man he took vengeance on Mucosa.

Then, one day there came a Spaniard, 'twas the bold and brave de Soto,
And he found the precious fountain, fountain of the living waters.
Then Mucosa sent the captive whom for years he had protected,
Sent him to the Spanish captain. There he told his tale of torture,
And the kindness of the Princess and her lover, Chief Mucosa,
Who had shielded him from danger of the Big Chief, Hirrihigua.

Now the story's almost ended, for the men who wrote the history
Failed to tell if Chief Mucosa at the long last claimed his loved one,
Claimed the tender-hearted Princess who had saved the Spanish captive.
But the waters of the fountain, fountain of the Youth Eternal
Still are flowing, still are whispering of this love of long ago;
And they still sing out a message of a life and youth eternal,
Sing a song of joy and gladness in the sunshine of the southland.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net