A Golden Light

Down a path of cobbled-stone

She trod and shivered all alone

While ‘round about the storm did pour

Over the roofs and every door

Was bolted close against the rain

That pattered on each window-pain.

Such fingers tapping at the doors

And drops slithering to the floors,

They crept into her boots and coat,

The only things that dreaded not

To touch that sullied flesh and bone

Which made the mouths of men to groan

And children run away in fear

While mothers shrieked and dogs would tear

The very flesh from off those bones,

To grind into the cobble-stones.

She heaved a sigh as down the road

There came a coach with many-a-load

Towering high like hunchéd crip

That through the mud and rain did slip

So fast careening through the gloom

To dash some walker to their doom.

One moment brief she thought to stay

And stand within the coach’s way

And so be blasted into bits

‘Cause bits can’t feel the icy nips

Of rain and sleet and seeping snow –

She thought it would be nice to go

Away from all the cold and gray.

Alas, though that day was the day

A coach, a cry and shattered shards

Would not be how she left the earth.

A step aside and she was splashed

By plume of muddy-brine that lashed

So hard against her hands and face

That she was winded for a space

By all the cold. At last the street

Was empty from the rushing beat

Of horses’ hooves and rumbling wheels,

That echoed round like thunder peals.

Lifting her gaze to gray-black sky

The girl did close her eyes and sigh

As down her collar slipped the rain

And down her spine there shot a pain

That turned the rest of her quite numb.

She stumbled once, and falling down

Into the mud and gutter’s grime

She climbed onto a pile of slime.

And there she sat as night grew on

So lost, cold, wet and all alone.

Within her mind a candle bright

Was lit and round such golden light

Her fingers ached to cup the glow

And hold its warmth, nor let it go.

“A light like that,” she whispered to

Herself, “That’s what I’d like to do:

Just light a flame and make it mine.”

She thought how wonderful and fine

A little warmth would be tonight.

“A little warmth – a little light.”

Slowly her eyes closed o’er the dream

Which spun into a living scene

Of fields and pastures golden lit

Where butterflies and wishes flit

Through flowers of satin, warm and bright

That glowed, each one, with candlelight.

“A field like that,” she whispered low,

“That’s just the place I’d like to go

And stay forever and a day!”

She thought and smiled her cold away.

Again the dream spun into light

And spinning out again a sight

Of palaces and temples grand

That stretched across a golden land

Where all the people laughed and danced

And over all the cities glanced

A sun that never cloud could hide,

Played through her dreams and fantasized.

“How beautiful,” she thought with sigh

Of happiness, “Just think what I

Could do if I could but get there!

It is so lovely everywhere.”

Yet even as the dream was fair

A wind sprang up, and in its air

There blew a song so strong and bright

As swept the vision out of sight.

A new theme rose – this even more

Bright than all of the dreams before:

A garden spread farther than sight

Could reach, and ‘twas a lawn of light.

There flowers danced and butterflies grew,

Here palaces rose from the blue

Lake, twisting through a golden sky

So beautiful it made her cry.

She sobbed with joy: “Oh, take me there!

And never bring me back to where

My feet are cold and skies are gray.

Oh, who will carry me away?”

And, hark! what should the girl hear

But someone’s voice fall on her ear:

“I’ll carry you away, my dear

Now hold on tight, and do not fear.”

And then she saw him – glorious sight!

A prince all clothed in gold and light!

His smile was radiant – eyes so blue

As shamed the lake and bells that grew

Around the garden. And his voice

Was such a song that she rejoiced.

Into his arms she ran and lay

Close to his heart. Then up away

They soared in chariot of light

Out of the garden – out of the night

Which wrapped her round outside her dream,

They flew from what the world did seem

Until the prince’s steps did trod

The starry stairway up to God.

“Where are we going?” she asked – did peer

Through stars and nebulaean sheer,

Through galaxies, celestial ring

Each one spinning a song to sing.

The prince just smiled, and stooping down

His head, he kissed her on the brow.

“Dear child,” his voice stole through the gloam.

He whispered, “Love, we’re going home.”

She smiled, more golden than a star,

‘Cause home was where the angels are

And mother, father, brother, friend,

Were waiting in the Promised Land.

“I’ll carry you away, my dear,”

The young man murmured in the ear

Of waif he’d found lying so ‘lone

Her head pillowed on cobblestone,

Her frozen feet buried in grime,

Her face coated in gutter-slime.

“Wake up, dear child,” he whispered low

And though a smile made her face glow

She heard him not, but past the gloam

Her soul had flown and found its home.