"Heart of Opal"
Postby gingerkid ยป Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:54 am
"Heart of Opal"
by Captain Frank Leechman, author of "The Opal Book"
Safe in the silent rock they sleep,
Remote, unseen;
Far from men's hurried lives they dream
Through ages dark.
The old earth stirs and they are born
In her warm heart,
From blood-red fires they draw their life;
their colours pulse.
The patient miner comes; he digs,
They hear him move;
Nearer he draws with lamp and pick,
Far down they hide.
Deep in the mine's dark wall they wait;
A sound, a light;
From soft clay beds he takes one up,
At last - it lives!
Beneath is clinging clay it glows,
A burning fire.
Through jet-black heart it flames
With clear red blaze.
The grinding wheel tears off the crust,
Gone is its shield;
The soothing buff restores its sheen;
It smiles secure.
Safely it's set in gold refined,
By fire made pure;
And hung on dainty chain for maid,
Immaculate.
Gently she takes his gift - a stone,
Its flames a - dance;
Proudly she wears her opal heart
At Ballet, Masque.
Deep in its fiery heart they glow
Those colours bright
And on man's hurried dance they shine
Through years of light.