Acabar
It sat there, old, sturdy,
Right there on the table.
The sign said ‘free’.
A perfectly sound book.
A Spanish / English dictionary.
Who would want to discard such a book?
I certainly accepted the offer.
As I rode in my truck, book by my side,
I began to ponder the scenario…
The book was owned by a once young maiden;
English was her tongue, her only one.
At her tender age of twenty four she met a man,
A Spanish man in Valencia, possessing a certain tenderness;
A kind of tenderness she had not seen from any man.
He had only one tongue, a Spanish one.
Still, as she beheld his way, his manner,
The language was clear, pure.
This was not just a Spanish man,
This was a man of consideration.
Surely a young maiden can tell;
She certainly knew in her heart,
It was not just his deep dark hair
Or his sturdy stable frame.
Neither was it his strong countenance,
It was his warmth, his kindness.
This was seen in his eyes, his blue eyes.
This man was not just a passerby,
He was a man of consequence.
There will have to be an introduction: introduccion.
The day and time of this first meeting
She duly noted: debidemente…
The new day brought a brilliant sky
The Mediterranean was glistening.
The market: mercardo, was bustling,
The maiden had said book in hand,
She had written a sentence;
In a clumsy approach she read aloud:
“Dear Sir, I noticed you yesterday,
I do think I know you, although,
We have never met”.
Then with that peaceful look,
With those kind blue eyes
The Spanish man smiled…
He reached out, took the maiden by her hand,
He said: “Excursion al campo?”: picnic?
Why did this book, this Spanish dictionary
end up on the table “for free”?
Did the maiden and the kind blue eyed man continue?
Did they live their lives teaching each other their native tongue?
Did they marry? Was there a family to follow?
Or could this have ended in sadness?
Was their “excursion al campo” a beginning?
Or was it conclusion?
Was this book left on the table in completeness?
Or was it in frustration?
This is where I give you, Dear Reader,
The beautiful young maiden,
The kind dark-haired blue-eyed man,
The Mediterranean Sea, Valencia.
They are yours, finish their story:
Acabar…
© Joseph James (from the book 'O The Elms' soon to be released)
5-7-11 (Thank You Antonio Vivaldi for RV 93 largo)
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