Emerald Necklace

He gave it to her on her birthday

With a promise he would marry her.

He put it around her neck, let it fall

Across the hills of her bones,

And gave her a kiss as he spun her around.

She wore it on their wedding day

With a pretty white dress.

The green shined down the aisle,

Along with her beaming smile.

She let her tears fall,

they landed on the emerald,

Sliding down, filling the cracks,

And they kissed with it between them.

They bought a big piece of land, a great house,

They painted the walls green,

And laid the necklace above the fireplace

To join in their quiet talks,

And pass the nights on.

A baby was born with green eyes

On Thursday night, her cries

Filled the house with their smiles

Brighter than before—

But the next eight years bring cracks—

Lost babies, no money, storms, fights.

The necklace gathered up dust,

After years of not being worn,

After years of misplacing its love.

But the cracks can be filled—

And they can disappear as

The two of them live in happiness,

And in the green light again.

With flowers all around and dust gone,

They dance in the emerald light.

They dance away the years and days,

And slow themselves down,

And sit, side by side, with their

Emerald hugging them,

As the clock ticks on by,

And one night the necklace opens,

The green light shines brighter,

And then blows out one last time

As the roses and weeds cover it.