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The Web Poetry Corner - Ronald G. Auguste - THE EVE OF YOUR DEPARTURE

THE EVE OF YOUR DEPARTURE

by

Ronald G. Auguste

(For Dorothy Zahner)

The eve of your departure, you and I

Went for a walk; the afternoon was clear,

And clouds sailed like gondolas in the sky.

We strolled up to the Morne, lingering where

Rude flowers tossed their heads, until the shrill

Serenade of a bird lured us from there --

And then, in gentle sunlight on a hill,

We saw the sea through portholes in the leaves,

Ashimmer in the sunshine! Almost still,

A seabird sailed the skies, and on the eaves

Of the horizon, a big white ship gained

Harbour-wards to you: For the hand that weaves

The chequered fates of mortals had ordained

That you should leave warmth, friendship,

love and home;

And when you went, nothing but grief remained....

But on that day, beneath the dazzling dome

Of azure heavens, we had a last fling!

While you had dreams of London, Paris, Rome,

And I, alas! hawk with a broken wing,

Hopped lame beside you, bird of paradise,

Hawking to soothe my sorrow ... hawks can't sing.

I heard a sob, looked round, and in your eyes

Unshedded tears were glistening like dew.

Girl, I was overcome with glad surprise,

And tried to think of something nice to do --

I climbed a mango tree, fed you its fruit,

And whispered: "Girl, no mango's sweet like you."

And then you smiled. A lizard on a root,

Basking in sunlight, seemed amused; it stared;

And suddenly I did not care a hoot

For self-pity! The lizard disappeared

Into the trembling foliage of the tree.

You watched with shining eyes, while my eyes cleared.

From then, we shied from words; you, close to me,

Seemed far too fragile, so we spoke with looks;

Somewhere, a blackbird made a melody,

And there were copy-cats in leafy nooks.

You said you could discern the sweetest note.

Our eyes collaborated to write books....

And then, we kissed in hunger as the boat

Honked loudly in the harbour; hungry, yet,

I felt your honey-kiss cling to my throat;

And when we sighed "Goodnight", the sun had set

In clashing colours out upon the bay --

That beauty haunts me still -- I can't forget

How swift that vapourous rainbow changed to grey,

While my heart flew within me! My blood burned!

I never really loved you till that day!

But when your letters came, you thought I'd spurned

You, by not saying "Good-bye" on the quay --

As Paris did for Helen, girl, I yearned,

But could not bear to see you sail from me....

NEXT?
Why don't you look at Still-life with Ducks
by: Frank Valentyn
from: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

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