Song of Eli

The man of sorrows bowed his head

As one who longs to join the dead.

A stranger he to all delight

A wanderer through constant night.

But once while passing down the street,

A charming lady he did meet.           

So as an eve gone cold and grey,

He turned to her with stagg’ring sway,

And pursed his lips, smoothed down his hair,

Said, My, what pretty clothes you wear.

And with a giggle, she reply,

A tempting twinkle in her eye,

Good sir I think you are mistaken

If with me you’re to be taken.

And with flirtatious smiles round,

His eyes lay heavy on the ground,

For ne’er before had he been smitten

(Not in the stars had it been written).

Names and numbers were exchanged,

A date and time promptly arranged,

Then each to home to rest the night

Until they meet at morning’s light.

The months went by, turned into years

Time, it seemed, had healed his tears

From the past and hurts of old—

His past his future ought foretold.

One glorious day in spring they wed,

He took her sweetly to his bed.

Their marriage bliss was plain to see:

He loved her, she loved he.

And when a child was announced,

With joy ecstatic he pronounced,

A happier man could not exist!

(His smile never did desist).

The time went by, her belly grew

A greater joy they never knew.

Then came a doctor’s call one day

Which filled their hearts with such dismay:

Her pale complexion waned with woe

When they learned the child would not grow.

And soon indeed the baby died

And they embraced and slowly cried.

But through their love, he much insisted

All pain and sorrow’d be resisted.

The seasons soon began to pass

The constant sorrow did surpass

But he still loved with passion burning

His joy was sluggishly returning.

Yet still her sorrow did not cease

And nowhere could be found a peace

He tried to love her, give her hope

But soon she found a string of rope

Which late one day she tied so tight

To hold her fragile body light.

And with a prayer to God above

She fell an inch, a dying dove.

When he returned that twilit night

And saw the dangerous, beautiful sight

He did not scream or say a prayer

For all he did was stare and stare.

As he tenderly took her body down

Her hair fell softly like a crown.

He lay on her a gentle kiss,

Her warmth and beauty he would miss.

He slowly turned and wept for sorrow;

He knew no more what was tomorrow.