Echoes of a melody

Dancing alone…

My feet sweeping

through the soft grass

A melody from long ago rises

In my heart and mind

Sun-kissed grass

So young and new

Expressing my moves

Your verdant eyes upon me

Amused and expectant

I stumbled that bright, sunny day

Cheeks hot with embarrassment

On hands and knees

Juices from the grass

Staining my palms

Temper rising in a sharp arc

Heat blushing my cheeks

I heard your soft chuckle

That I needed to practice more

I rose with the dignity

That I could muster

Your eyes were dancing

With barely repressed mirth

Flames of anger burned

In my breast

I clenched my teeth

Turned my back on your teasing

The order of my lab

Would be a balm on my bruised ego

The metal of the door handle

Warmed by sunlight felt reassuring

Ah, sweet study ahead

The sharp clarity of equations

Spring breeze shifted

From south to north

Cool off of the water

The scent of clover wafting

from your direction

The scent of grass overlaying mine

As if by some mystic skill

The beginning verses

of a love song from my homeland

Sung in rich baritone

Spilled from your lips

How do you know my native tongue?

You sing of saffron, ancient tales,

and destined love.

I turned away from my exit

Studies and hurt feelings forgotten

The melodies you sang

So treasured

After all the word-play, frustration,

and annoyance.

The teasing and disarming

of my defenses

I finally spied the twinkle

of love in your eyes

All reason fled

Logic stupefied to silence

Wonder and joy filled me

My heart was a sparrow

Called to your outstretched hand

My feet thumped along the ground

Beating to the rhythm

of the sudden flickering flame

that you ignited in me.

I ran into your embrace

Expert thief!

You stole my heart that sunny day

That one sunny day

When clouds and apathy

Did not cover the sky

The memory of the song ends

as my dance slows to a stop

Shadows of the gardens surround me

My hand drifts to your mark that I bear

We may be far down the road from each other

I still feel you within

I lift the lantern, glowing amber in the night

Hope and longing a trembling bird

deep in my breast

My eyes with held-back tears

scan the stars in the velvet sky

My beloved Lord, I am your Guiding Star