Noble Rennaker 1885-1911

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Poem 19

from the anthology Voices From Mt. Olive Cemetery. A work in progress.

Noble Rennaker

1885-1911

Indeed! Ask the dead and they will tell!

They will reveal what true beauty is.

They will tell us the secrets of forgotten Eleusis.

Indeed! I know how Romeo, 

Of fair Verona’s Montagues,

Must have felt, when he too,

Experienced the resounding joy

Of love at first sight,

But that sight, let it be known,

Only I knew of,

Only my eyes saw the connection,

And I spied and peeked and peered,

Unknown in the shadows,

At my oblivious mistress in purple,

My dream lady, my love.

Watching as a soldier at guard watches,

Watching for movements in the distance,

Listening for sounds, whispers, giggles,

Peeping at naked shapes, 

And bending silhouetted turns.

And with pleasing moans and gaspings,

From behind the closed back doors,

Doors draped in concealing green garlands,

I saw her hair cascading in the shadows,

I heard her muted voice reaching for something soothing.

I watched her my friends!

Watched her at all hours of God’s day!

Peeped and peered and spied,

Watched silently there, 

Saw wonderful visions there,

Her sorrowful breathings.

She, my love,

Soaking in scented baths of oil

In the soft candlelight there 

Way out in the back at dusk,

Over on old Canobie Street.

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