A Gift

She walked up to him, reclining there in his beach chair,

feigning indifference, while surreptitiously evaluating

the youthful lithe form

Drifting as effortlessly over the sand,

as the shadow she cast before her

She reached out, holding a gift in her delicate hand

A rock, stamped with impressions of ancient times

Here, she said, I found this over there - I think it’s pretty

with all the fossilized shells and colours...

I have a bigger one I’m carrying back home and

thought it would be a shame to discard this one,

so I decided to give it to you, her smile offered

Well, he said, I think you are right - I think those are fossils

and it IS very pretty - thank you for sharing this beauty with me

...so what should I call this beautiful gift?

Laurel, she lilted...

Coral? he teased...

like Coral, but with an L, she laughed

Alright like Coral with an L, he quipped

I shall bring pretty coral Laurel home with me

And there forevermore, she will grace an honoured place

Upon the console of my soul...

Her hair haloed her head, as she abruptly turned

disappearing into the brilliance of her smile,

stealing the shadow from his face, leaving him

suddenly blind in her absence…

By Marc Charette

From: Canada

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/marc.charette.357