The Other Sister's Tale © 2003 by Izolda Trakhtenberg

There is a long tradition of songs that are about two sisters. In each one, both sisters love the same man, and always, one sister murders the other. There are different versions of these songs. For example, in "The Cruel Sister" the sister with dark hair murders the sister with golden hair. And a bard comes to the wedding day of the older sister (to the man both sisters had loved). Before he gets there, he has come across a skeleton with beautiful long golden hair. He makes her breast bone into a harp and strings it with the long hair. Then, as he arrives at the wedding party, the harp begins to sing of the dark-haired sister's treachery, and she is found out.

In "Two Sisters," the sisters are both in love with a young man named Johnny. Johnny loves the younger sister and gives her gifts and pretty things and ignores the older sister. The older sister kills the younger sister this time and then she, too, is put to death for her crime. These songs never end happilyas you can probably tell. I decided to write the tale of the two sisters from the other point of view. Was there, perhaps, a reason why all this tragedy occurred? This song gives a possible answer. It is the Other Sister's Tale - the one we never get to hear.

The Other Sister’s Tale


He was a lad whom I had loved so well
We met one morning at the Harvest Faire
I saw him in his fine and dandy cap
He praised me on my long and raven hair


O said he it’s black as pre-dawn sky
He asked to meet me by the Stony Stream
So he could love me in the pale moonlight
With hair flowing ‘round me and my eyes agleam


I refused his arms though I felt drawn
My heart it beat for him from dawn to dawn
I knew the ways of men yet I was charmed
Though part of me knew that I yet played the fool


One such night I finally met him there
He kissed me deep and touched my long dark hair
On this one instance in the dead of night
I let him love me in the pale moonlight


Three moons passed when I was finally sure
A babe I’d bring to next year’s Harvest Faire
I called for Johnny please to come to me
So he would see and then he’d marry me


But as he came he saw my sister dear
As I was dark she was golden fire
He fell in love struck by Cupid’s bow
And I saw all my fortunes sink so low


He bought her presents: hats and golden rings
He’d never given me a single thing
He said that I was not the marrying kind
That I too easily left maidenhead behind


He said that he preferred a virtuous maid
He wanted her for wife with her gold braid
So one day walking by the foamy brim
I lost my mind and pushed my sister in


Her cries unheeded she was drowned by waves
I watched her struggle then at last no more
I wept but I had yet my babe to save
I hoped my treachery she in heav’n forgave


Three months from then he was to marry me
When a lone bard came the night before we wed
He’d brought a harp of golden hair and bone
It sang of death for which I must atone


And so I sit here on my wedding day
And think of endings to this tragic play
My one regret as I face what I’ve done
I will not live to raise my little one


We women have our precious burden borne
It grows to face the sun like golden corn
Please give my daughter dear this note for me (It says)
"I knew not love until I loved thee."

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