11. "The Witch of Rose Pedal Bliss"

Written 2-3-2000

The town was warm and smiled upon all
The citizens were just. The churches stool tall.
‘Twas never too busy, though everyone had a job
Never was there a sigh.  Leaves were excited to fall.

The lady was shy, blushing yet fair
A fan in her delicate grasp attracted air
Her lady-like ways, perhaps, were old-fashioned
But no bachelor in town really seemed to care.

Her gown was a flowing, timid azure
A rose pedal aura forever surrounded her
If any a man fell sickly with loneliness
Her shining pearl smile would be more than a cure

The dark of night wouldn't shade her brilliance
A man were a god if only he had a glimpse
A gentleman once had banded her finger with gold
But the hero's soul was cursed, and she had been alone since

The mare was golden, wild and pure
But a lasso would never capture her
Some say it was the curse of her broken heart
Which her own rose pedal bliss could never ever cure

A man- perhaps not mere mortal- who was pure, sharp, and strong
A man who never corrected, only offered himself when he witnessed
wrong
He was loved and respected.  He lived to help and influence.
It was all too perfect when he fell for the widow's song.

His persistence was admired and he honored her beautifully
A bow and a kiss on the hand offered at first from chivalry
Though his charm and intelligence enchanted her to blush
A second stolen heart was never to be

He wanted to hold her forever under the weight of a diamond
But the mare wouldn't be tamed again with the band
She cried, hating herself for not loving the man
Despite his genius, he could not understand.

At one point or another, just as the ocean leaves the shore
He left her alone, his spirit having been torn
The warmth of the town fled from the goddess
And her wonderful rose pedal bliss was no more

The town gave a warm embrace to strangers
After the man left, the warmth was never hers
She cried until she left the land- unvisited and unblessed
The witch with the curse of the shy azure dress
The mysterious perfume, the shoes shined and slimly healed
All taken away- vanished from sight
When her second chance came
She drew it back to the night