THE PROMISE

All the gold in the world lacked
Luster in the evening shine!
Barely in the twilight of rose
Were the tops of trees dyed.

A surprise love, my hand joined
With his hand, dark and trembling!
We were Booz and Ruth before the beauty
That surrounded the farmstead.

“Will you love me?” You whispered. Slowly and surely,
Trilled in my lips the soft promise
Of sweetness to lover from Moabita.

And it was like an “Amen!” In that moment
The rhythm of oration rose vibrating
With the rhythm of the hermitage bell.