Benicia Love Poem: Paradise Explained

Paradise Explained by Suzanne Bruce

Today, they look fully into each other eyes,
silent stories speak as perpetual flames
of precious remembrances ignite, light
pours its gold through cherished and sacred
love, connection constant, gentle, like rivers
softening the ruggedness of stony mountains. 

Over 50 years ago, sunset buried in the mountains,
his proposal brightened the evening sky, her eyes
filled with tears as she stood shaking, rivers
of joyful energy surged through her body, flames
of passion spread as they bowed to their sacredness,
vowed to be together through the dark, the light.

Their first apartment jeweled by urban lights,
skyscrapers, high-rises, city mountains
fringed by red and tan bricks, architecture sacred
to deco lovers, to them, didn’t matter, their eyes
danced to unwritten patterns, internal flames
kept everything fluid, a song, a river. 

Life threw a curve, twisted, like a winding river
thick clouds didn’t allow for any light,
job loss, confusion, fear, while flames
of disbelief spread like morning fog as mountains
built distance between all, but not between the eyes
of the two who had grown to understand sacred.

Like capturing Paradise, how did they hold sacredness?
Respect, even when one was down river,
scattered moonbeams clinging to a sighing sea, eyes
focused on the other’s, clutched gilded light,
rode each ripple, helped rebuild the mountain,
no crumbling even to the threat of deadly flames.

Sometimes the night would bring brightness, flames
that reminded them of youthful thoughts, how sacred
ideals can challenge the highest path through mountains,
challenge the uncertain rhythm of the river,
undertow lurking, pursue to keep external light
from blinding, kept open their thoughts and eyes.

Their flames remained alive, survived tempting rivers
testing sacred love, relied on softness of internal light
and mountain strength, for their eyes to see Paradise.