The Priceless Jewel

Pray for me,
I think I've lost my mind.

By fate or chance, or divine appointment,
my eyes found a jewel both priceless, refined.
Coloured subtle, indescribable, incomparable -
coloured an explosion of flavour in mind.

Hue of flower's delight, indescribable,
the radiance of stars, green seas' serene, clear,
yet in the spectrum irreproducible,
at once unique, and without peer.

A chance vision it was,
a glance, over too soon.
A long gaze passed in seconds,
and each day without, seeming a moon.

Too peculiar to grasp firmly in mind,
that colour unique, that sheen so bright.
Yet to witness again, brings clear recall;
that beauty meek, that subtle delight.

Mind's eye tries vainly to pain the portrait,
tries that beauty to recall, to behold.
But Memory fails to contain within,
that precious jewel, that fiery gold.

Too precious does that beauty be,
for re-visioning within so crude a mind.
Yet re-observed: heart delighted with details rekindled,
My soul, seeing beauty, is remind.

The jewel displayed at certain times,
then absence burns - my heart desire!
Still wait I must, until that right time,
Yet even in short times my heart does tire.

Caught in a spell, am I,
seeking her gaze forevermore.
Yet time, it seems, I must always wait.
Rich for seconds, and then for eons poor.

Seeking that colour, that ethereal fire,
I quest, that once more that gem I'll find.
Travailing paths not usually travelled,
commuting via unfamiliar lines.

Just too many days until our next meeting,
my heart sorely aches, but to see her again,
so I search out places in the past I've seen her,
my vain questing, unfinding, I hold in disdain.

That beautiful colour, to but see again,
would quench the deep thirst of my heart.
That beauty so deep, that feminine so dear,
that sea-barrier of solitude would part.

So fine a gemstone, where could it be found?
(apart from Father's apple-eye, since time begun)
I search the river-stones and some seem familiar,
But none have the shine of my beautiful one.



I rise then, and go about the city;
In the streets and crossings, I will seek that which my heart loves.
I sought it but I did not find it.

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem,
if you find it, what shall you say?
That I am faint with the madness of love.

Pray for me,
I think I've found my heart.