METAMORPHOSIS
by Michael Langston

Long ago in a forgotten land,
There stretched a beach of whitened sand
Where oft a maiden, young and free,
Would slowly walk beside the sea.

The sea breeze streamed through her long hair,
But no one else was with her there
Save sea gulls ranged in perfect flight
In sunset’s fading, ruddy light.

The mellowed sunlight lit her skin
And warmed her to her heart within
Till in the sea, the sun went down
As sea waves made their crashing sound.

As night approached and she walked back,
She dreamed of what she’d always lacked:
Beneath the shining stars above,
She dreamed of someone she could love.

Now underneath those very stars,
Upon a rock that stood not far,
There sat a man in this dark place
Who wore a frock to hide his face.

His face was marred; his heart was pure;
Much sorrow had he thus endured,
And only one thing he had known:
A life of wandering alone.

He’d watched the maiden in her walk;
To such as her, he dared not talk;
He couldn’t tell her what he felt:
That she had caused his heart to melt.

Atop the moonlit precipice,
He breathed a sigh and made a wish…
Not for himself as others do:
He wished that all her dreams come true.

When morning came and he awaked,
A sight caused his whole form to shake:
From out his clear-blue washing place,
Stared back a perfect, godlike face!

Now in that far-off, long-lost land,
Two lovers stroll the glistening sands…
Clasped together, hand in hand,
Beneath the place a bare rock stands.