The Locket

The Locket

 

On the birthday of my sixteenth year,

I was presented with a locket

How thrilled I was with it

For it was all mine!

This locket,

That seemed to be as ancient as time!

It was a gift,

For my coming of age,

I knew in my heart,

That my proud parents

Would soon choose a husband for me.

How I hoped that he was handsome,

And richer than even my father,

Vain girl that I was.

But for now I was giddy

Happy and free,

Content with the locket

That was graciously

Bestowed upon me.

 

Oh how often I remember

Proudly strutting around

With that priceless locket around my neck

The silver and ocean blue sapphires and crystal diamonds

Glistening in the island sun.

 

And then came that fateful day,

When I strode to the lake,

And nature seemed to balance out my pride.

I remember dreamily looking out upon the water

And proceeding to unpinning my hat,

And letting down my long, auburn hair,

I remember turning my face upwards

Towards my island sun.

 

How I clearly remember,

The unusual, but dazzling exquisite beauty

Of the beloved locket,

My beloved treasure,

On that fateful day.

 

I ventured onto the bridge over the lake,

Wanting to see my reflection.

I leaned over the mahogany bridge

And looked at the water

I looked lovingly at the locket

That was dangling in front of me.

 

How clear I and the locket looked

In the reflection,

I remember thinking was astonishing.

 

Oh how when I later looked back on that moment

How it still seems to me now,

It was as if in that moment,

The entire world stopped

And only I were in motion.

I saw the chain suddenly break

In my reflection in the water.

I saw the horror on my face

As I tried to grasp the locket,

But instead I only managed to grasp

The delicate silver chain,

And I watched the beloved locket sink.

I watched it sink into the water,

I watched it sink to the unreachable bottom of the lake.

I saw the glisten of the silver, the sapphires, the diamonds,

As it sank into the lake,

With a splash of finality.

 

Oh how I searched for that locket

That heirloom,

For all that day,

I searched until the twilight fled the world.

I searched for what seemed at the time

To be for years on end.

But I never did find it again.

My father offered to have another

Made for me,

My old self would’ve agreed to it,

But for a reason still unknown to me this day,

I refused.

 

Though I did fervently wish I had that locket

With me on my wedding day,

It would have gone nicely with the diamonds

Woven into my auburn hair.

 

But now,

Here I am,

An old widow,

Still dreaming about my forgotten youth,

Savoring what memories of the past

That I still remember.

And hoping that one day,

That I may return to my island,

And that I shall forever remain on it,

Beneath my island sun.

Reviews

[Joe]

I really like this poem. Your wordchoice and rhythmare really well crafted. Great job! Keep it up!