by Donald Hancock

Created on: February 18, 2009

GENEVIEVE

Thousands of sea birds, as far as my eyes could venture.
Naught else but sea birds and sky and ocean broad,
That was my life until that day I first saw Genevieve.

But my vision of birds and sky and sea
Became as a forgotten dream
The moment that Genevieve touched my arm and...

"Sir, could you help me?"
Her words, her voice, her scent, her presence
Filled me and I was as a man intoxicated in just that one brief moment.

She surely thought that she had touched a dead man
For I could not speak or move or do anything but
Stare with open lips as one struck dumb.

Then, with all the strength at my command,
I managed to croak out some absurdity..
Perhaps "Yes, yes, What, what?

"Sir, I am looking for a man who has a boat for hire,
I am told that you have a motorized pram..
Could you take me to that island?"

I looked at this vision, surely from Olympus..
Surely divine, at least in part.
And yes, I did take her to the island.

She was there to photograph some rare flower
That grew only in that place.
I could do nothing but stare, nothing more, all day.

I took her back. She paid me, I think. I really don't know.
I asked her name. How I did that I have no idea at all.
With a smile I can not forget, she said, "Genevieve". Very French

I never saw her again until this day.
And yet I can not truly see anything else.
For her words, her voice, her scent they fill my senses.

I sit and look at thousands of sea birds as far as my eyes can venture.
Naught else but sea birds and sky and ocean broad,
But all that my mind can see is Genevieve.

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