The Pearl

It was not a salubrious neighborhood

As the townsfolk there would tell,

But you often found a gem of a pearl

In an ugly oyster shell,

And Derek thought that he’d found his pearl

In those mean and dismal streets,

A girl by the name of Jennifer Searle

Who would make his life complete.

 

He’d met her at a charity ball

On a short term holiday,

From where she sat, at the end of the hall

She’d taken his breath away,

Her eyes were such a delicate blue

And they held him in their stare,

He was like her prize, and hypnotised

As he stumbled to her there.

 

And she bade him sit beside her then

And she let him hold her hand,

And she hushed him when he tried to say

What he didn’t understand,

Her smile was brittle, her hand was cool

And her skin as white as snow,

Her form was frail, but he felt her nails

Dig in, as he rose to go.

 

And a woman came to claim her then

Who dismissed him out of hand,

They waited until he’d turned to go

In a way that was pre-planned,

The woman gave him a printed card

With the girl’s address at home,

And scribbled there, ‘you may call on me

Just once, if you come alone.’

 

So he walked the damp and dismal street

And his heart began to sing,

He knew one call would be enough,

He would give her everything,

He found her door in a portico

With its number shaped in lead,

And rapped the brass of the knocker there

With its atavistic head.

 

Then the door swung slowly open and

He was standing in the hall,

Following tamely where she led,

The woman he’d met at the ball,

Jennifer sat at a table and

She smiled as he wandered in,

He stood and stared at her wheelchair

And his look was questioning.

 

‘You get but a single chance with me

That’s all that I ever give,

I’ve seen the lies in a hundred eyes

So rather than lie, just leave.

My legs have been useless now for years

But I’m whole, and full of love,

If you’d like to take a chance with me

Speak now, for I’ve grieved enough.’

 

‘I fell in love with your eyes,’ he said

‘From the other side of the hall,

I didn’t know that you couldn’t walk

And it doesn’t matter at all.

I wanted to offer you everything

If you’ll have me, well and good…’

Then Jennifer blinked back tears, as she

Reached out for him, and stood.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Avinash]

True love takes off all the shackles created by society and common perception. It takes people to another plane which will be hard for anyone to understand who has not ever tasted it. This one was emotionally beautiful. Your work continues to remain unpredictable as always.

[TL Boehm]

aw what a lovely story. Sometimes I foresee your endings but most often I don't and this was another heart tugging surprise. Beautiful.

[TPK Stories]

The power of love heals...interesting story, David.

[MomzillaNC]

Perfect.

No more need be said, except to appease the site word count requirement.

[Lyndy]

Oh wow, this is very lovely and touching. It really is a test of true love regardless of what condition one is in. I love it! ^^

[andrew mitchell]

a romantic journey this one

[sereenaoutloud]

This was a romantic write that imagery took me back to a Jane Austen novel, capturing the eyes of a love across a ballroom, being invited to "call upon" the lady!
Just beautiful

[ANTO]

"a delicate blue" - I like this shade of blue - I kind of get sick of reading about azure eyes on poetry sites after a fashion.
"he walked the damp and dismal street
And his heart began to sing..." - recalled one of my favourite songs - out of My Fair Lady/Pygmalion, which starts "...I have often walked, down this street before..." - class - thanks DLP.

Aww you old romantic you. This is...well...has me at a loss for words. What a beauty!
Amazing writing dear friend.
My new fav of yours (Im starting to sound like a broken record on your pages lol)

[R Smith]

you did it again David, just as i was applauding from the gallery out came the surprise ending, she could walk and was testing him, quite a woman to deal with i'd say, this is one above your many, many other great works, absolutely loved it :)

[alf]

Hi David. Wow. This is a tear jerker!!! I loved this story, more because, I worked with people who have disabilities so the story really resonated on my second read, from there I was hooked. The verse, as usual, sounds good when spoken aloud and has a really good cadence, or metre or whatever it is called. The story flows with ease and gives the reader a feel of participation. Bravo!!Another great write!!! alf