Flowers Set on Tables - 3 of 5

So, I came down from the mountain,

 

And I saw that the multitude

No longer moved like a great herd,

Pressing hard, one against the other.

 

For the many had come to a resting place

In the green foothills below the mountains.

And now, they conversed in brotherhood.

 

But I saw that a rare thing of great value

Had been left in the open, unattended;

And that some had moved close to it,

Admiring its beauty, and longing

To take it unto themselves.

 

So, fearing the intentions of those who drew near it,

I secured that item and spoke to the multitude,

Saying, ‘If this item is your item, then say so,

 

But if it is not yours, do not say that it is,

For then, this item will lose its value

 

And become a curse and not a blessing.’

 

And for a long while, no one spoke or moved,

As no one could say that the item was his -

And those who only desired it,

Saw risk in claiming it

 

Since many eyes would witness

 

Their dishonesty.

 

So, I continued to stand before the multitude,

Holding the item above me so that the many

Could behold it and admire its rare beauty.

 

But as the hours passed, I grew weary of holding it,

And angry with those who envied the hand that held it,

 

Even though the item

Did not belong to the hand

That held it and showed it.

 

And I began to fear that its owner would not claim it,

And that by default, the item would become mine.

 

So, I spoke again unto the multitude, saying,

‘Do not be ashamed of losing precious things

But triumphant about finding what was lost.

 

 

And then, a grieving woman

Arose among the many,

 

And in her tears of shame, she saved me.

 

For the item was hers and she had been dreaming,

Unaware that her treasure had been lost,

 

And that a stranger had discovered it

And secured it on her behalf.

 

And she embraced me

In thankfulness and love,

 

As I embraced her in love

And greater thankfulness.

Author's Note

This piece is a part of my revised work, previously posted at WritersCafe.org. It is from a book in which some of the entries are written in prose or poetic prose.