"Forget Me Not"

Forget Me Not

By Eloise Banting

Forget me not -

Forget me never -

Your heart I sought -

Born to be together!

So I give you this seed -

This seed of faith - 

It is born of our creed -

It will keep you safe!

I planted my first when I was only five -

I said a prayer over it to see you in time.

And when it bloomed I wore it everyday in my hair -

So when I blossomed too - you’d stop&you’d stare.

Then you saw me in time -

At the baker’s shop!

Do you remember the flower in my hair?

When you thought that sweet thought??

Days had passed -

And so had the great moons!

We lived in joy!!

(Yet danced on our tombs)

But remember that flower??

Well, that sweet flower I kept!

I dried its soft petals -

In my gold locket they slept!

They bring me luck -

When I walk through the street -

They give me protection -

When the 2 devils lie&they cheat.

The first time I met them - 

The night eclipsed the street.

They were watching and watching -

I could hear the march of their feet.

So I heard them coming -

Faster and faster!

So I sped up -

And my locket I clasped her!

The first devil nearer -

Grazing my thigh and my hip -

The second more eager -

Pressing his fingers against my lip.

Then the first one lifted a gun to my head -

(Holding me closer and closer)

When he finally said -

Give me your money, Your body!

Or I’ll shoot you dead!

I said I have nothing!

Please let me go free!

Just this locket -

One you may keep!

He snatched it off my neck -

And broke the chain -

He opened the lock -

And the petals - to the ground they rained!

So I fell to the ground -

And I knew they would run!

I fell to the ground!

Picking up my petals one by one!

So I darted home -

And held you so close, so tight!

I sewed the petals in your favorite coat!

So you’d stay warm if they take you at night!

Then they broken in soon -

In the closet did I hide -

They knew you were there -

With your polymath mind!

SO away they took you -

But I ran after with my bare feet.

They beat you so mercilessly -

And dragged you through the street!

But I could not let you go -

Without this one thing -

He needed his blessed petal coat -

SO to him the angels would always sing!

They glared&they glared -

And surely said okay -

Searched it for guns, for gold -

And said on his back it can stay!

They said to flee -

And never come back -

But all I saw around me - 

Was death in its tracks!

To my right was a daughter -

Who would never be the same -

Holding her father’s lifeless hand -

After a bullet to his brain.

To my left was a mother -

Being pushed around by three!

To my front were my friends -

Hanged in the sweet trees!

Below my feet was glass -

From our baker’s shop window -

At the door was his body -

And streaming eyes of his widow.

But what do you do -

When tragedy itself abounds?

Does it make it less tragic?

When tragedy surrounds?

The loss of a child -

Too hard to bear.

The loss of a million??

They play, they play(they die)at the Godless fair.

I knelt & I prayed -

To the heavens & those universal gods of grace -

I was told to run home -

To plant my seeds in the back garden vase!

Yet a life without him -

Is no life at all!

But he is cloaked in my love!

And the petals of the fall!

So forget me not -

And forget me never -

Your heart I caught -

We are always together.