The Stars in the Pool: A Prose Poem for Lovers

by Edna Kingsley Wallace

NOW when Flame was come before the King and Queen and the Princess Roseheart, he was filled with the humility of those who have great pride, insomuch that he fell upon his knees before them to beg that which aforetime he had asked as in the ignorance of a child. But ere he could speak, King Telwyn put forth his hand and raised him, saying, "Flame, son of Lokus, thou art a thousand times welcome. Hearty greeting The Return In Honourwe give thee, in good faith that thou hast returned in honour."

Then spake Flame on this wise: "Greeting from the heart I give thee. Meseems my heart will burst with the fullness of my joy that I am come once more to the home of my love, to look upon her beauty, and to give into her keeping all that I have, and all that I am, for she is the soul of my soul."

Then, bethinking himself that he must remember in courtesy to put before his own desires that which was due to others, he made obeisance to the Queen, Ellaline, who greeted The Eagerness of Flamehim with kindness, asking him whether he had had food and drink since his journey.

"Nay," he said, "how should that have been, when I was so much more an-hungered to see quickly the face of my beloved?" And he turned him to his love, Roseheart, standing very still, with her soul in her eyes.

With quick woman-wit then did Queen Ellaline motion the serving men that they should draw the curtains of the tent, themselves standing without. And the King and Queen withdrew also, that the lovers might be alone. Whereupon Roseheart, The Woman of Starsher silver cloak falling from her, stood forth to Flame as that woman whose form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars, she that was clad in shining raiment, fashioned full seemly of white silk that flowed and clung, revealing gracious lines of her form, who walked stately-wise, with little children about her knees.

And upon the sight of Flame was a mist, and when it had passed and he looked again, the little children were not as they were living, but like wraiths of divers colours, making as it were a rainbow in the midst whereof stood one still a maid. And Flame fell upon Flame Falleth Upon His Kneeshis knees, and called upon her name. And she set her two hands upon his head, and lifting it gently, looked down into his soul. And when they had come to understanding on this wise, she gave her hands into his, and lifted him up. And he drew her to his heart, and kissed her on the mouth, whereat she was all a woman, and clung to him, saying with little broken cries, "It hath been so lonely without thee—I love thee so!"

Remembering the pain and struggle of his quest, Flame cried out, "Wherefore did I go from thee?" Yet even as he spake, right well he knew how The Findingit had been needful that all things should have befallen them as they had done.

Then did the face of Roseheart grow wistful-sweet, and she asked, "The woman of thy dream—didst thou find her?" And Flame answered, "Aye, I have found her. Dost thou not know? Thou thyself art that radiant woman, starry-eyed. I know not what hath befallen thee, save that the starry heavens, that look upon all things, have made thine eyes their dwelling-place."

Whereupon Roseheart, his beloved, chided him on this wise, with a laughter that was of the Beyond Selfsoul, and naught unkind in it: "My happiness is so deep, I needs must laugh at thee. Meseems the truth is that aforetime thou sawest only thyself in mine eyes, and that now thou hast learned to look beyond thyself. And thus it hath been with me also. Once I saw not anything but myself in thine eyes, but now therein I see ships and far countries, and the forms of beauty that thou hast dreamed, and those which thou shalt create in the years to come. When first I saw in thine eyes that woman of thy dream, of whom thou hadst spoken, sorrow and humility were heavy upon me, for that I understood not why there should be aught The Remembered Visionin thine eyes but thy love, Roseheart. But there came a time—" She was silent for a moment that she might hear the music of the remembered vision. "Have I grown like her—in good sooth?" she whispered.