A Hundred Poems XIV

What spirit imbues that flesh! A love like that of a mother’s best,
with twinkling eyes and a heart of gold, that mystical flair that balances dew
upon the soothing green blade, touching your father’s heart too!

And you tend to good deeds that love and life bequeath to all,
a fiery and tender twinkle that brings joyous tears to your father’s eyes,
with the moon and bird-songs following you forevermore!

Your lovely grace in turmoil will make his heart always beat for you,
the world and all its gifts of gold and position are not as valuable
as that tender spot where angels dance, the room where I first met you.

That spot must have the best cot that shall forever remain my home,
you are a fair bloom of sweet beauty, fairer than roses bringing the bright noon-day,
more valuable than grass, rain, or the cold kiss of a winter’s night,
because it’s what’s inside of you, not your fur or appearance, that’s dear,
it’s the bloom that comes from the heart, and that’s what I keep.

What soft breaths of wind, what autumn songs from the skies that day,
and what beauty was not lost, comes from the cleft of the heart,
the heart that I hold in mine, to your father, who now with silent eyes fixed,
weeps tears of the heart for you,
From Heaven above have come
THE ROSE AND THE FLOWER.

(rev) 03.19.2023