The Gift of Love

It is her sixteenth birthday,
Papa had promised her lovely things.
Returning from Paris to New Orleans,
Uncle Percy met the ship at twelve-fifteen.

A party was planned in her honor,
friends, relatives arriving from parishes miles away.
The whole town was talking,
a grand social event for the day.

Lace, glitter trimmings, gold packages.
Hand sown red roses, a gown of Chantilly lace,
her long curly hair, secured by pearl pins.
All eyes watch Carolyn highlight the stair case.

Papa watches his Princess descend.
No longer a baby, his last gift from Carmen.
Now a young lady with grace and charm.
A magnet for Louisiana's hot-blooded men.

Papa's gift was last and best,
emerald earrings in antique gold
to match her sparkling Irish eyes.
A perfect gift to look upon by silly young and foolish old.

A bloody rolling sea came to their fairy land.
Lives change forever as bodies and fortunes fall.
Goodbye to grand parties,
grim telegrams replace visitors that call.

Carolyn's Papa suffers a stroke,
all slaves, but his valet, drift away.
A faithful daughter is right by his side.
She nurses him night and day.

The three of them, in surreal dreams,
move about like ghosts lost.
In a dying castle world,
a funeral cover of gray moss.

Carolyn's arms gently cradle him,
on a journey to join his Carmen.
She sings an Irish lullabye,
tis peace found in a place without sin.

By Kathie Stehr
August 17, 2014