Shirley’s Eyes
One misty morning, three
visions,
pleasant reverberations, came to me–
your veiled face, a nocturnal lily
blooming in the twilight of my hope,
and a silver harp. I couldn’t discern
your smile, but your eyes shone opalescent
fire, more mysterious than stirred gray
embers, ash glow from a burned out star.
You sparked the snow and lit the fire within me.
Your fingers gently touched the harp to play
a melody I never heard before.
When you sang, I blossomed like the lily
to witness my own birth. Shirley, take off
your veil or let me. I offer you my love
as grace and a too blank soul for sheet music.
—Marcellus Leonard
Local poets were writing about contemporary events in the Sangamo
Journal as early as the 1830s. People’s Poetry wants you to share your thoughts
on what’s happening in Springfield today–in poetic form. Poems on any subject
will be considered, but ones that deal with issues of local interest are encouraged.
Send yours to poetry editor Lee Gurga, P.O. Box 662, Lincoln, IL 62656, or to
gurga@ccaonline.com with “Bards of
the Sangamo” in the subject line. (Please limit your submissions to poems of
14 lines or less.)
This article appears in Jun 19-25, 2003.
