Daughter of Eden

Fair maiden farewell
Beyond the baying brine
Which washes away the shore
You were
for at least a moment
mine

You spoke strangely
Of your place beyond the sea
A place of giant birds built by the hand of man
A place of cities that scratch against the sky
Men dancing upon the moon
A world of wonders beyond my dreams

Do you remember?
Those days we spent
As the starving spend their pence on bread
Spending nights upon the road to Baghem
Each moment wondering
If the next would find us living
Or dead

Do you recall?
The shimmering waters of Miranoste
The majesty of the Toes of the Sky
The magiks in the mists
Where the snow never melts
And laughing ghosts dance in moonlight

Those memories fade with each waking
The places and faces further gone
But never you
Your hair the shade of autumn leaves
Your eyes as quick to smile
As you lips were apt to laugh

But that is past
You are gone
And I am left to linger on
A poor man
in a dark world
Dreaming sad dreams of light

***

“And that was Don Selly with sports.  In local news, a young woman was found last night who had been reported missing by her family more than a year ago.  A state trooper responded to a call from a concerned citizen who saw the young woman, a one Evelyn McJunkin, wandering in the town cemetery sometime after midnight.  She was taken to the local hospital having suffered what the police are saying were potentially life threatening injuries consistent with an attack by a large animal of some kind.  She is reported to be in stable condition at the moment.  Her parents, Roy and Eden McJunkin, are with her and have asked anyone in the community willing for their prayers.  In a time of hardship and struggles, it’s nice to see a happy ending whenever we can.  Back to you Steve.”

She stared at the ceiling
Through the back of her eyelids
Feeling as if she was dead
Stitches across her cheek
Bandages around her leg
And a pillow beneath her head
Listening to her parents talk

“No.  No Roy. You-“
“I have to.  They won’t stop.”
“Can’t you just be happy that we have her back?”
“They won’t stop.  And I’m not about to wait for them to try again.”

Evelyn shivered, but not because the room was cold.