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By Echolocation Date: 2001 Jun 11 Comment on this Work [[2001.06.11.00.29.5605]] |
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So carefree we were on that bright summer day Wandering the green fields, Poppies, snapdragons, daffodils, marigolds, daisies, honeysuckle, clover, Carpeting the soft meadow at our feet Larks and mockingbirds calling each other Sunlight warm and golden as honey pouring from an infinity of blue above Laughing, pelting each other with blossoms, Falling at last to lie lazy in the long grass, Desultory conversation fading to quiet even breathing I awoke when a shadow fell - sunlight no longer warmed my skin Opened my eyes and there he stood above me A dark statue, carved of jet, gazing down at me Bright summer's daughter, lying in his black shadow His voice was deep enough to shake the earth itself Though only a few words, and gently spoken And tremble I did - but not from fear Or, if so, only the new-awakened fear Of being found unworthy in his eyes Eyes of compelling fire yet black as remotest night That asked only a single question To which I was and always had been the answer Neither one complete without the other Like two halves of a walnut shell, Twin souls parted and now suddenly re-met. They say he stole me away - Struggling screaming captive seized and dragged below, Frightened and alone and unwilling... Alone, yes, that part is true, None of my merry high-hearted young companions Willing to accompany me and my dark lover. As for the rest - if it makes them less uneasy, let them have it so, Limited souls afraid to conceive of such a love The truth would be to them more frightening still: Freely I followed, freely gave myself Surrounded by him I blazed like a star Glorying in the darkness that frames it About me he was black velvet, the night sky Given depth and beauty by my radiance To his dark halls came neither day nor night, Yet neither of these seemed to me a lack The warmth of his regard was sunlight enough for me, The darkness of his embrace the sweetest twilight And the blaze of our passion outshone all the stars Untouched by anything save each other Hours, days, weeks ran together in a swift-falling stream Oh, how I wanted it to go on forever, All my hopes, wishes, dreams fulfilled there in his arms, his bed Murmuring in my ear, "Only love me - love only me - You will never have to leave my side." Like a question and its answer Neither one complete without the other Like two halves of a walnut shell Twin souls parted and now suddenly remet. Wrapped in our happiness we did not know that in the world above my mother wandered Ragged, despairing, single-minded, Turning her face from the world of men Seeking only her beloved wayward daughter Caring not that all growth ceased Golden warmth fading to grey, green to barren brown, Dead leaves scattered by a bitter wind When at last she found us, my love and me, I would not leave him, bade her turn and go And since my mind was fixed, unwavering, She had no choice but leave me with my lord But just as a tree root may split a stone So may a small thing change the path of a greater A bowl of fruit sent to tempt my hunger Came from her, filled with latent power - One last effort to compel my return. Unaware of hazard or hand of fate I brought the pomegranate to my lips Bit into the soft flesh so long untasted As its sweetness spread across my tongue There came unbidden longing thoughts of spring, Leaves unfurling, apple blossoms, flowers A desire to see the summer sun Burnish with gold the liquid waves of wheat... His hand rising too late to hold me, stop me "Ah! What have you done? Did I not warn you Only of your own free will unfaltering Could you remain? And now you have chosen Summer fruit, sunshine, blue skies and green growth..." Only one bite, too late to spit it out Sweetness now turned bitter with betrayal Even as he spoke, all about me faded Last of all, dark eyes filled with love and loss Tearing at my heart as I prayed for mercy Not to be torn from my truest love For the six pomegranate seeds I swallowed - So tiny a thing to cause such grief! - I am held hostage for half the year Six months I must walk in the summer sun Listen to the lark, the mockingbird Breathe deep the rich scent of growing things But these will never again be enough, For I carry his dark eyes deep within Like a cool sanctuary in my heart Cold snow relieving a fevered brow Released the other six to go below With him who holds my heart Like a question and its answer Neither one complete without the other Like two halves of a walnut shell Twin souls parted and now suddenly remet. |