Français : le monument d’Héloïse et Abélard (7ème division, numéro 90 PA-1817) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In France you may find
The tomb of Heloise
And Abelard
Great love arises
Beyond societal rules
And religion’s call
Great loss will shatter
Honor and promises
Sound the fall
So centuries later
We visit Heloise
And her Abelard
In France you may seek
The voyage of history
In their graves
Great loss leaves its mark
Like a calling card
To the price of life
Great pain is a sign
That emotion is only
The road to strife
Yet in France you may seek
A testimony to fealty
In the lovers’ graves
(c) Helen Valentina 2013, All Rights Reserved
helenvalentina 
I’ve heard the name Abelard before, but it was a smart horse in the ‘Ranger’s Apprentice’ series. This poem really makes me wonder about the original. Guess I have research to do.
It’s worth doing the research – fascinating story of one of history’s most great and tragic loves. 🙂
Nicely done revisiting of a classic tale (you might want to edit featly – I think you meant fealty)
I did indeed – thank you! Editing done! Odd that the spellcheck didn’t pick that up because I doubt featly is a word!!! 🙂 🙂
Beautifully done!
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
As always……..beautifully written. 🙂
Thanks so much Skye!! I love the story of Heloise and Abelard! 🙂
Need to look into it for sure!!
It’s very tragic, but amazingly romantic.
Sigh….I will prepare myself with Kleenex. 🙂
Good idea!! 🙂
Beautiful poem and inspiring – I know the names, I know there is a story, but I don’t know *what* it is. Thank you for the inspiration to find out.
Thank you!! 🙂
Very beautiful! 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂 🙂
I love their story. Many many years ago a read a beautiful novel about them. Wish I could remember the name. Your poem, though, is also beautiful.
Thanks so much, it is a remarkable story! 🙂
You left me covering my heart and my privates… 😉 Religious restrictions and societal mores, catalysts that destroy loves even today. I think, though, that the endurance of their feelings through correspondence over the ensuing years (a sort of John and Abigail Adams love letter affair) despite the tragedy is a more apt ending than a “happy dagger” and a bottle of poison. The lessons to me: Life takes us for a tumble, but we must go on. The heart holds many secret passages, but we must endure instead of surrender. Like your take in this poem. Eric
Thanks Eric – I agree with your thesis re this..your response made me immediately think, ‘oh, poor Abelard!!’…very harsh treatment for him, but the enduring love despite that is quite extraordinary. 🙂