"The Haven"
by Ben Bock

(apologies to E. A. Poe)

Once upon an evening dreary -- at a party -- she grew weary
Over many a cruel and callous comment by a stuck-up bore.
Dating him was sheer Tom-foolery, notwithstanding gifts of jewelry,
He bethought himself a ruler, he issued orders, as in war.
Therefore to this Eve she bade adieu and headed for the door,
Said good-night and nothing more.

Tired and drawn and looking waxy, Catherine went to hail a taxi,
Finding it to be the usual monumental, maddening chore.
Then some aid! It seemed propitious, but in hindsight quite suspicious.
As a van came, someone vicious threw her in its open door,
Quickly slammed it shut and hurled her savagely upon the floor.
Fear she felt like ne'er before.

Cognizant of growing peril, next she heard herself called "Carol,"
Not a name she even knew but some conventiongoers' whore.
Taken wrongly for a hooker just because she was a looker,
Wondering why her luck forsook her, lying there upon the floor,
Catherine screamed and lapsed unconscious ere the knife-inflicted gore.
Then they flung her out the door.

Soon a strange nocturnal rover, caped in black and all hunched over
Found her lying in the grass and bleeding, clawing at death's door.
Gently he reached out to hold her -- then, beginning to feel bolder,
Lifted her onto his shoulder, hers a plight he'd not ignore,
Took her to a secret haven in a hidden place of yore.
There her health he would restore.

Bandaged, blind, she woke in terror, sensing some great cosmic error.
Then a magic velvet voice spoke, soothing her like ne'er before.
"You are safe now" -- what an earful, for a soul so lost and tearful
Calmed her, made her much less fearful of whatever lay in store.
Asked her name and told her his; told her the "St. Vincent's" lore,
Changed her life forevermore.

"With my vocal affectations I will read Great Expectations
For your listening ear, so just relax, your ribs are very sore."
Then he introduced his Father, who was sometimes quite a bother;
Catherine sensed the man would rather not take on this added chore.
Vincent soon explained her placement, down where few would dare explore.
"Keep it secret, I implore."

Dumbstruck by her fragile beauty, overcome by sense of duty,
Vincent felt a growing bond; an oath of loyalty he swore.
While she rested, nearly napping, Catherine thought she heard a tapping
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at her chamber door.
"`Tis some visitor," she muttered, "Who is out there, and what for?"
Answered he, "I'll read some more."

Missing nearly half a month, her father and the smarmy Gunther
Searched the city, never finding that which they were looking for.
Meanwhile in that place of mystery, wrested from the city's history,
Vincent struggled to assist her, he oozed compassion from each pore.
She, once strong, now seemed a waif -- despondent, frightened, blind and sore.
Pure self-pity, to the core.

Ten days in this strange position with a stranger and physician
Made her restless, so she rose and, yes, her bandages she tore.
Saw her face-scars in the mirror, gasped and looked to see them clearer,
Then stepped Vincent somewhat nearer, startled her like ne'er before.
Catherine flung the mirror at him, not sure which face scared her more,
Sent him slinking out the door.

Later things were less frenetic, and he spoke of things genetic,
Fateful things which sentenced him to hide his face forevermore.
Notwithstanding his attraction, he still hurt from her reaction,
Felt renewed dissatisfaction with the countenance he wore.
Yet, he put aside his anguish, brushed aside his woes galore,
Vowed her spirit to restore.

"Catherine, you have strength within you -- now your life you must continue,"
Counseled Vincent softly as he walked her to her basement floor.
Quite ashamed of her behavior, knowing he had been her savior,
Catherine hugged him, said "You gave your all to me, and then some more.
What words can I say to thank you? Hear me please, I do implore."
But he vanished, through the door.

Into surgery on a gurney went the beautiful attorney,
There to have her face fixed and the scars removed forevermore.
Minus fatherly endorsement, took a job in law enforcement.
Catherine knew that this of course meant lesser income than before.
But, her life had found new meaning -- member of a stalwart corps,
Vanguard in an urban war.

Eight months passed and Vincent noticed e'en at distances remotest,
She was in his senses still, and this was too much to ignore.
On a whim a little flighty, went to see her in her nightie --
Beautiful as Aphrodite -- and they talked outside her door.
"One last time, I wished to see you," Vincent said, and eyed the floor.
"I am strong now," Catherine swore.

She, now toiling for Joe Maxwell, missed some work but hid her tracks well,
Save from spunky Edie who had often seen the type before.
"In this office you come bopping, then you go and do your shopping,
Meanwhile holy hell's a-popping -- it's a mindset I abhor."
Catherine fought to gain her friendship, earned respect, and won her o'er,
Not to argue ever more.

Aided by this office hacker, Catherine tracked down her attacker,
Having found the mystery "Carol" whom the knife had been meant for.
Asked her help and Carol gave it, swearing out an affidavit;
This was truly very brave, it put her in a full-scale war.
For her safety, Catherine hid her, ere the trial, her civic chore.
Be a victim? Nevermore!

In a brownstone in the Village, there was further bloody spillage,
Catherine's slashers found their prey and ruthlessly renewed the gore.
Rage within his darker twin sent fury into gentle Vincent.
Catherine, wide-eyed, no more inn'cent of his strength, his claws, his roar,
Saw the maulings, saw his shame, and whisked him to the basement door,
Bonded now forevermore.

Thus began a tender story, often sad and sometimes gory,
Of a special something that has never, never been before.
She a beauty downward-mobile, he a beast grotesque but noble,
Theirs a tale unique yet global, one we thoroughly adore.
Facing odds impossible, they dared to dance, to love, to soar...
What a wondrous metaphor.

About the Author

Ben Bock is originally from Ohio but has lived in Los Angeles for the last 10 years, working at an insurance company. Ben, a romantic at heart, has been a Beauty and the Beast fan since 1988 and cites "Orphans" as his favorite episode. Ben only recently started writing poetry but says he isn't quitting his day job. He enjoys baseball, travel and puzzles and created a book of Beauty and the Beast crossword puzzles, which is available through Martin Enterprises, P. O. Box 1211, Burke, VA 22009-2211 (USA). Ben is also the editor of "The Mirror Pool", a quarterly Beauty and the Beast hard copy newsletter. Contact for more information.