His Beloved Pilgrim

Rachel's eyes penetrate the mist lingering on the harbor,
golden-yellow specks reflect daylight rising above the shore;
brightly painting the coastline, once barren and bland,
the salty breeze seasoning each   long dark strand

that flow like a silk scarf down the ships slender  neck;
Richard looks on,    himself a human shipwreck.

stands  in the shadow of a rusty trawler as the sunrise

threatens to reveal the ravished man and dark disguise;
feeling the cruel whip of a gale wind against his back,
as rippled waves slap the ships remaining, giving no slack;

he despises her New World, like a jealous lover rejected,
given the choice,  goodbye he might have his England bid .

Even now there remains a tug of war but he will not be beat ,
until Rachel’s ship disappears where sky and white caps meet;
revealing an empty horizon, like an unfinished painting,

Richard his sorrow unbearable, searches his pocket for the ring

while she sails away to find her beloved freedom without him;
unaware his heart is aboard the valiant vessel which swims,

across the Atlantic, seeing his future now only dark and grim,

held captive by one very beautiful and beloved Pilgrim .

Rachel’s ship lands at the Cape's front door;

the land waking, darkness lifts from its shore;

end of the journey stumbling across the Atlantic,

eager to conceive freedom under it's icy blanket.

children explore virgin land with wide eyes;

their sense of adventure not so easy to disguise;

some stare at the pretty woman, the ones so bold,

others pretend to be pirates, searching for gold.

Each word, covered in winter's white breath,

snowflakes on tongues, seeing their wealth;

Rachel tinged with envy, her imagination marred,

as the children play, in this boundless new yard.

Richard made believe he was a knight once too,

she, his beautiful princess, coming to rescue;

wondering if without him, she would ever be free,

not wanting to torture herself with what was to be.

spread over lonely nights, haunt without fail;

season each memory with a bitter taste,

she must go on and with remorse not waste.

Answering her parent's desperate plea,

to leave for America, where they could be free;

with a strength born of her own convictions,

answered not the mocking and doomed predictions.

What rang out to the depths of her soul,

was a frightening, unceasing toll;

when the oppression threatened to bind,

set off for the New World, but left her heart behind.

As Richard left under night's cover, excitement coursed through him;

no longer afraid it being misconstrued as betrayal or a foolish whim;

his note  tells of Rachel's voyage, sailing to the new world weeks ago;

from London's port, his heart aboard, why tonight, on a ship would stow.

like a school boy in love, makes his way down dark roads, winding;

smiles as he remembers an awkward young girl, looking at him and pining; then only a few years later, suitors lined her own door;

making believe she was a princess and they her knights in armor.

he forced his cramped legs on, fearing the voyage he would miss;

knowing he could never exist, without her smile and tender kiss.

there is a fierce tug of war, that no one can win.

His mind clear for the first time in years,

in contrast to fog surrounding the pier;

disguising his tall lanky figure,

and God painting a picture much bigger.

with a final look back, he jumps on board;

breathing a prayer, to his faithful Lord.

His eyes caught the sun playing with her hair,

falling on her shoulders, beauty he could hardly bear;

astounding him with kind looks;

no longer eyes for the others, a second glance he hardly took;

falling more in love with Rachel with each shimmering moon;

by the end of their journey, like a rose in full bloom.

 Rachel stole a glance at Marcus, uncomfortable as he continued to stare;

handsome to look at, to love a man other than Richard she might dare;

though she would never see him again, still she chided herself of late;

but with all the preparing to do, schoolgirl foolishness had to wait.

Richard’s heart was full, seeing the coastline through the foggy gray

he felt as if he would jump overboard and swim the rest of way.

having no idea what to expect if he found her after this trip,

the thought of her married, haunted him each night on the ship.

the beauty of the land struck him deeply as he was still waking,

the coastline, not yet under winter’s full wrath was breathtaking.

he was already falling in love with this new world and he penned a poem, now he had two loves, his Rachel and a place he could call home.

Richard knew God’s hand was in this when someone recognized Rachel, his description fooled no one which he knew all too well;

it could only be her and she was only a few miles away.

he got down on his knees, and began to desperately pray.

Marcus sat next to Rachel not believing what he was hearing,

she refused him, he couldn't believe, still loved one more endearing; putting her hand on his, speaking of a phantom love across the ocean, then he began to walk away just as he heard the commotion.

Rachel just stared in disbelief screaming, Richard, Richard!

seeing him walk towards her from across a neighboring yard

Marcus’s heart broke then, as the lanky young man picked her up,

swung her around while she laughed and cried, more than filled her cup; staring into each other’s eyes, Richardand Rachel, alone in the crowd, running away hand in hand, the two more humbled than proud.

Looking in her gorgeous green eyes, Richard’s lips lingered until he knew,

couldn’t trust himself to the passion locked up for so long, yet brand new;

he shared the day with her, made friends with Indians and Pilgrims, except for one picking up broken pieces of his self-esteem, looking grim;

Richard was given his heart back, to his proposal, yes she would say;

began to praise his Lord and Savior, calling it his own Thanksgiving Day!