CHAPTER 4. AFTERNOON SERENITY
The silence of the autumn day
spun gentle sunlight in a web
to capture mind in secrecy
and pave imagination’s way.
Nathaniel knew he should be gone
and seek a place of work and rest,
yet found himself entranced by time
and so postponed his moving on.
His lady of the noon had passed;
he felt she’d not return to him,
but soon he saw a strolling form
as graceful as the shadows’ cast.
The woman’s face was quite mature,
her gown with daisies richly sewn
her hair was braided, carelessly,
in confidence of her allure.
Serenity her spirit found
in every movement she would make;
Nathaniel smiled to welcome her,
she greeted him without a sound.
He found he loved her ripened charm
of gentled warm companionship;
he’d no desire to lie with her,
but sat encompassed by her calm.
“You have a name, I know,”
he said, and she inclined her stately head;
“Perhaps you are Penelope?
Or Demeter, with corn to sow?”
The lady laughed a merry peal
and touched Nathaniel on the cheek;
she hand him an autumn pear;
he thanked her for the welcome meal.
The afternoon was finely drawn,
with honeyed sunlight fading fast,
when this companion rose to leave.
His loneliness again reborn,
he watched her pacing out of sight,
and found his spirit was resigned
to sit and ponder on the day;
awaiting fast-encroaching night.
Chapter 2. Maid of the Morning