Story Poems

(This one is a take off on Sax Rohmer's
 Dr. Fu Manchu stories)

My Oriental Jewel

I turned my eyes upon a scene,
Completely strange, an alien sight,
Where wine-red vied with golden sheen,
With sea green drapes on ev'ry side.

"It's but a dream", t thought, then stared,
For on one side, the curtains swayed,
As if one wondered how I fared,
But stood a moment, hesitant.

My eyes were held upon that place,
Impatient, yearning --- then a hand,
As white as clouds, with ev'ry grace,
So slowly moved the drapes aside.

And there revealed to my awed gaze,
A face as lovley as a dream,
She looked at me as in amaze,
Then shyly stepped within the room.

No Occidental girl --- this lass,
She bore the look of China's world,
And with no doubt, the highest class,
Possessing wisdom, beauty, too.

My soul knelt there before her feet,
For such a one could not be real,
There could not be a smile so sweet,
Nor glances so compassionate.

Her gown was shimm'ring in the light,
In all the pastel rainbow shades,
She wore one gem, a jewel so bright,
Aquamarine, her eyes deep shade.

Her voice was low, but sweetly clear,
As she then spoke and said to me,
"You are, dear friend, imprisoned here,
Because of father's whim and will.

And what he's planned, I do not know.
But you must not remain, I fear."
So, pointing out the way to go,
She watched a second, then was gone.

And still I would go back again,
And face whatever waits me there,
If she would welcome me and then,
Perhaps, admit, I have her love.

The Moment

Light laughter flowed like golden wine,
From youthful hearts and lips,
The air was free and life was young,
Among the happy crowd.

But then one came and sat him down,
And tension seemed to grow,
Two pair of eyes, that sought his face
And one then turned away.

The free and merry comradeship.
Had vanished when he came,
For now a stealthy watchfulness
Held reign where joy had been.

She noted that he held her hand,
And saw the loving look,
And felt a chilling in her breast,
For jealousy held sway.

And then he left and life was dead,
The silence was a pall.
The others found their voice again,
The moment's tension o'er.

But in one heart the spark was dead,
The smile no more returned,
One dream had vanished in that time,
And would not bloom again.

Death

As night's dark shadows fell o'er all,
A boy and girl, so loath to part,
Were standing in the quiet hall,
For love had blossomed in each heart.

They never dreamed the end had come
Nor that this day would be the last,
For sure, their love would not be dumb,
If they had known their dreams were past.

But morning light brought sorrows deep,
For now the boy stood by her bed,
Where sweet she lay, as if asleep,
But even love can't wake the dead.

He kisses now those quiet lips,
That once had smiled on him.
And in his speech, he halting, trips,
While blurred by tears, his sight grows dim.

"My castles in the air are gone ---
Now what have I to do with life,
Destroyed, the picture I had drawn,
Of us, as loving man and wife.

Our children 'round the floor would play,
Or such had been my happy dream,
But it has been destroyed today,
By loss of her, whom life I deem."

His mother, vainly tried to still,
His sorrow-laden bitter tears.
Which tore the very soul and will,
And raised a mother's fondest fears

But soon from out that room he fled,
And crazy, wild, he ran along,
For in his mind, he saw her dead,
Who late, had been, his love's own song.

But mother love must follow yet,
And so she saw the sorry sight,
As from his heart, the life was let,
While still his eyes saw fading light.

And as she watched, she saw him smile,
A smile that bade "good-by" to life,
But said "hello" to joy, meanwhile,
As he beheld his heavenly wife.

Night's Angels

Now night's grey canopy is drawn,
And all the actors sleep,
Behind the scenes God's angels work,
As mortals slumber deep.

One angel'e task to portion dreams,
To change a hardened heart,
Or give a lonely lover hope,
Or just God's peace impart.

Another watches by those beds,
Where life's brave light burns low,
And sweetly soothes the falt'ring fears,
That souls near death must know.

Another angel's blessed hand,
Cools fever'd brow and brain,
And ling'ring close gives strengh divine,
To withstand grief and pain.

By newlyweds, another stays
God's love so sweet bestows,
And in the glory of their love,
The angel's joy still grows,

The mother's fears are soon allayed,
An angel comforts her,
So filled with peace, she stills her child,
Whom night dreams strange did stir.

So all the folk and all the friends,
That in this world reside,
Are watched and helped and taught at night,
By angels at their side.

So ev'ry night, before I sleep,
I raise a solemn prayer,
Thar God might send an angel's love,
To guard you ev'rywhere.